Emblems Ancient and Modern
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A15631.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A PREPOSITION to this FRONTISPIECE.
THis BOOKE containing EMBLEMS, 'twas thought fit,
A
Title-page
should stand to usher it,
That's Emblematicall: And, for that end,
Our AVTHOR, to the
Graver
did commend
A plain Invention; that it might be wrought,
According as his Fancie had forethought.
Insteed thereof, the
Workman
brought to light,
What, here, you see; therein, mistaking quite
The true
Design:
And, so (with pains, and cost)
The first intended FRONTISPIECE, is lost.
The AVTHOR, was as much displeased, as He
In such Adventures, is inclined to be;
And, half resolved, to cast this PIECE aside,
As nothing worth: but, having better ey'd
Those
Errors,
and
Confusions,
which may, there,
Blame-worthy (at the first aspect) appear;
He saw, they fitted many Fantasies
Much better, then what
Reason
can devise;
And, that, the
Graver
(by mere
Chance
) had hit
On what, so much transcends the reach of
Wit,
As made it seem, an Object of
Delight,
To look on what, MISFORTVNE brought to light:
And, here it stands, to try his
Wit,
who lists
To pump the secrets, out of
Cabalists.
If any think this
Page
will, now, declare
The meaning of those
Figures,
which are there,
They are deceived. For,
Destinie
denies
The utt'ring of such hidden
Mysteries,
In these respects: First,
This
containeth naught
Which (in a proper sense) concerneth, ought,
The
present-Age:
Moreover, tis ordained,
That, none must know the
Secrecies
contained
Within this PIECE; but, they who are so wise
To find them out, by their own
prudencies
;
And, he that can unriddle them, to us,
Shall styled be, the second OEDIPVS.
It is, likewise, thought expedient, now and then,
To make some
Work,
for those
All-knowing men,
(To exercise upon) who think they see
The
secret-meanings,
of all things that be.
And, lastly, since we find, that, some there are,
Who best affect
Inuentions,
which appear
Beyond their understandings;
This,
we knew
A
Representment,
worthy of their view;
And, here, we placed it, to be, to these,
A FRONTISPIECE, in any sense they please.
[illustration]
A COLLECTION OF EMBLEMES, ANCIENT AND MODERNE: Quickened With METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS, both Moral and Divine: And disposed into LOTTERIES,
That Jnstruction, and Good Counsel, may be furthered by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation.
By GEORGE WITHER.
The First Book.
[illustration]
LONDON, Printed by A.M. for John Grismond, and are to be sold at the sign of the Gunne in Ivy-Lane. MDCXXXV.
REcensui hoc Poëma, cui titulus est (A Collection and Illustration of Emblems Ancient and Moderne) in quo nihil reperio, quo minus cum utilitate imprimatur, ita tamen, ut si non intra septem menses proxime sequentes Typis mandetur, haec licentia sit omnino irrita.
GVIL. BRAY.
Ex aedibus Lambithanis Iul. 2. 1634.
A WRIT OF PREVENTION Concerning the AVTHORS Dedication of the four following BOOKES, to those Royal, Princely, and Illustrious PERSONAGES, whose Names are mentioned in this Leafe.
I Have not often used, with
Epigrames,
Or, with
Inscriptions
unto many NAMES,
To charge my
Books:
Nor, had I done it, now,
If I, to pay the
Duties
which I owe,
Had other
means
; Or, any better Ways
To honor them, whose
Virtue
merits praise.
In
ARCHITECT,
it giveth good content,
(And passeth for a praisefull
Ornament
)
If, to adorn the
FORE-FRONTS, Builders
rear
The
Statues
of their
Sovereign-Princes,
there;
And, trim the
Outsides,
of the other SQVARES
With
Portraitures
of some Heroicke PEERES.
If, therefore, I (the more to beautify
This
Portion
of my MVSES
Gallerie
)
Do, here, presume to place, the
NAMES
of those
To whose
Deserts,
my LOVE remembrance owes,
I hope 'twill none offend. For, most, who see
Their worthy
mention,
in this BOOKE, to be,
Will think them honored: And, perhaps, it may
(To their high praise) be found, another day,
That, in these LEAVES their
Names
will stand unrac'd,
When many fairer
STRVCTVRFS,
are defaced.
Jn this Hope, I have placed on the FOREFRONT (or before the First Book of these EMBLEMS ) a Ioint-Inscription to the KING and QVEENES most excellent MAIESTIE.
Upon the Right-Side-Front of this Building (or before the Second Book ) One Inscription to the most hopeful Prince, CHARLES, Prince of Wales; And, another to his deer Brother, JAMES, Duke of York, &c.
On the other Side-Front, (or before the Third Book ) One Inscription to the gracious Princesse, FRANCES Duchess-Dowager of RICHMOND and LENOX; And, another to her most noble Nephew, JAMES Duke of Lenox, &c.
On the Fourth Front of our Square, (Or before the Fourth Book ) One Inscription to the right Honorable PHILIP Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, &c. And another to the right Honorable, HENRY Earl of Holland, &c.
TO THE READER.
I F there had not been some Books conceitedly composed, and suitable to mean capacities, I am doubtful, whether I had ever been so delighted in reading, as thereby to attain to the little Knowledge I have: For, I do yet remember, that, things honestly pleasant, brought me by degrees, to love that which is truly profitable. And as David said, His Heart shown him the wickedness of the Ungodly; (meaning perhaps, that he felt in himself, some Experiments, of the same natural Corruption, by which they are overcome, who resist not evil suggestions at their first motions:) Even-so, I may truly acknowledge, that mine own Experience hath shown me so much of the common Ignorance and Infirmitie in mine own person, that it hath taught me, how those things may be wrought upon in others, to their best advantage.
Therefore, though I can say no more to dissuade from Vice, or to encourage men to Ver • ue, than hath already been said in many learned Authors; yet I may be an occasion by these Endeavors, to bring that, the oftener into remembrance, which they have, more learnedly, expressed· and perhaps, by such circumstances, as they would not descend unto, may insinuate further also with some Capacities, than more applauded Means. Viniger, Salt, or common Water, (which are very mean Ingredients ) make Sawces more pleasing to some tastes, than Sugar, and Spices. In like manner, plain and vulgar notions, seasoned with a little Pleasantnesse, and relished with a moderate Sharpnesse, work that, otherwhile, which the most admired Compositions could never effect in many Readers; yea, we have had frequent proofs, that a blunt Iest hath moved to more consideration, than a judicious Discourse.
I take little pleasures in Rymes, Fictions, or conceited Compositions, for their own sakes; neither could I ever take so much pains, as to spend time to put my meanings into other words than such as flowed forth, without Study; partly because I delight more in Matter, than in Wordy Flourishes, But, chiefly, because those Verball Conceites, which by some, are accounted most Elegant, are not only (for the greater part) Emptie Sounds, and Impertinent Clinches, in themselves; but, such Inventions, as do sometime, also, obscure the Sense, to common Re • ders; and, serve to little other purpose, but for Wittie men to show Tricks one to another: For, the Ignorant understand them not; and the Wise need them not.
So much of them, as (without darkening the matter, to them who most need instruction) may be made use of, to stir up the Affections, win Attention, or help the Memory, I approve and make use of, to those good purposes, according as my leisure, and the measure of my Facultie will permit; that, Vanity might not, to worse ends, get them wholly into her Possession. For, I know that the meanest of such conceits are as pertinent to some, as Rattles, and Hobby-horses to Children; or as the A.B.C. and Spelling, were at first to those Readers, who are now past them. And, indeed, to desp • se Mean Inventions, Pleasant Compositions, and Verball Elegancies, (being qualified as is aforesaid) or to banish them out of the world, because there be other things of more excellency, were as absurd, as to neglect and root out all Herbs▪ which will not make Pottage; Or, to destroy all Flowers wh • ch are less beautiful than the Tulip, or less sweet than the Rose.
I (that was never so sullenly wise) have always intermingled Sports with Seriousnesse in my Inventions; and, taken in Verball-conceits, as they came to hand, without Affectation; But, having, ever aimed, rather to profit my Readers, than to gain their praise, I never pump for those things; and am, otherwhile, contented to seem Foolish, (yea, and perhaps, more fool • sh than I am) to the Overweening-Wise; that, I may make others Wiser than they were: And, (as I now do) am not ashamed to set forth a Game at Lots, or (as it were) a Puppet-play in Pictures, to allure men to the more serious observation of the profitable Morals, couched in these Emblems. Nevertheless, (if some have said, and thought truly) my Poems have instructed, and rectified many People in the Course of Honest-living, (which is the best Wisdom ) much more than the Austerer Volumes of some critical Authors; who, are by the Common-sort, therefore only, judged Wise, because they composed Books, which few understand, save they who need them not.
In these Lots and Emblems, I have the same aim which I had in my other Writings: and though I have not dressed them suitably to curious Fancies, yet, they yield wholesome nourishment to strengthen the constitution of a Good-life; and, have solidity enough for a Play-game, which was but accidentally composed; and, by this Occasion.
These Emblems, graven in Copper by Crispinus Passaeus (with a Motto in Greek, Latin, or Italian, round about every Figure; and with two Lines (or Verses ) in one of the same Languages, periphrasing those Motto's ) came to my hands, almost twenty years past. The Verses were so mean, that, they were afterward cut off from the Plates; And, the Collector of the said Emblems, (whether he were the Versifier or the Graver, was neither so well advised in the Choice of them, nor so exact in observing the true Proprieties belonging to every Figure, as he might have been.
Yet, the Workman-ship being judged very good, for the most part; and the rest excusable; some of my Friends were so much delighted in the Gravers art, and, in those Illustrations which for mine own pleasure, I had made upon some few of them, that, they requested me to Moralize the rest. Which I condescended unto: And, they had been brought to view many years ago, but that the Copper Prints (which are now gotten) could not be procured out of Holland, upon any reasonable Conditions.
If they were worthy of the Gravers and Printers cost, being only dumb Figures, little useful to any but to young Gravers or Painters; and as little delightful, except, to Children, and Childish-gazers: they may now be much more worthy; seeing the life of Speach being added unto them, may make them Teachers, and Remembrancers of profitable things.
I do not arrogate so much unto my Illustrations, as to think, they will be able to teach anything to the Learned; yet if they cast their eyes upon them, perhaps, these Emblems, and their Morals, may remember them, either of some Duty, which they might else forget, or mind them to beware of some Danger, which they might otherwise be unheedfull to prevent. But, sure I am, the Vulgar Capacities, may from them, be many ways both Instructed, and Remembered; yea, they that have most need to be Instructed, and Remembered, (and they who are most backward to listen to Instructions, and Remembrances, by the common Course of Teaching, and Admonishing ) shall be, hereby, informed of their Dangers, or Duties, by the way of an honest Recreation before they be aware.
For, when levity, or a childish delight in trifl • ng Objects, hath allured them to look on the Pictures; Curiositie may urge them to peep further, that they might seek out also their Meanings, in our annexed Illustrations; In which, may lurk some Sentence, or Expression, so evidently pertinent to t • eir Estates, Persons, or Affections, as w • ll (at that instant or afterward) make way for those Considerations, which will, at last, wholly change them, or much better them, in their Conversation.
To seek out the Author of every particular Emblem, were a labor without profit; and, I have been so far from endeavoring it, that, I have not so much as cared to find out their meanings in any of these Figures; but, applied them, rather, to such purposes, as I could think of, at first sight; which, upon a second view, I found might have been much bettered, if I could have spared time from other employments. Something, also, I was Confined, by obliging myself to observe the same number of lines in every Illustration; and, otherwhile, I was thereby constrained to conclude, when my best Meditations were but new begun: which (though it hath pleased Some, by the more comely Vn • formitie, in the Pages) yet, it hath much injured the liberty of my Muse.
There be, no doubt, some faults committed by the Printer, both Literall and Material, and some Errors of the Gravers in the Figures, (as in the Tetragrammaton; in the Figure of Arion; and in the Proprieties due to some other Hieroglyphics; but, for the most part, they are such, as Common-Readers will never perceive; and I think, that they who are Judicious, will so plainly find them to be no faults of mine; that, leaving them to be amended by those, to whom they appertain; and, You, to accept of these Play-games as you please: I bid you Farewell.
The Occasion, Intention, and use of the Four Lotteries adjoined to these four Books of Emblems.
STultorum plena sunt omnia. The world is grown so in Love with Folly, that the Imprinting of over-solid and ser • ous •• atises would undo the Book-sellers; especially, being so chargeable as the many costly Sculptures have made this Book: therefore, (to advance their Profits, rather than to satisfy my own Judgment ) I was moved to invent somewhat, which might be likely to please the vulgar Capacitie, without hindrance to my chief End. And, though that which I resolved on, be not so Plausible to Criticall understandings, yet I am contented to hazard among them, so much of my Reputation, as that comes to.
I have often observed, that where the Summer-bowers of Recreation are placed near the Church, it draws thither more people from the remote Hamlets, than would else be there. Now, though I praise not their Devotion, yet I am glad if anything (which is not evil in it self) may be made an occasion of Good▪ (because, those things may, perhaps, be continued, at last, for Conscience sake, which were at first begun upon vain occasions ) and, have therefore added Lotteries to these Emblems, to occasion the more frequent notice of the Morals, and good Counsels tendered in their Illustrations; hoping that, at one time or other, some shall draw those Lots, which will make them the better, and the happier, whilst they live. I confess that this Devise may probably be censured, as unsuitable to the gravity expected in my ripe years: and be reputed as great an Indecorum, as erecting an Ale-house at the Church-style; yet, the same having had beginning in my younger days, I do now resolve not to be ashamed of it, for the Reasons aforementioned. To such as I was, it will be someway avayleable: and perhaps, if the Wisest did otherwhile, when they walk abroad, to Vncertaine purposes, take up this Book, and (without Superstitious Conceites ) make trial what their Lots would remember, or give them cause to think on; It might, now and then, either occasion better Proceedings, or prevent Mischieves.
Some Games were ever in use; ever, I think, will be, and for ought I know, ever may be without exception. And, I believe, this Recreation, will be as harmless as any, if it be used according to my Intentions. For, my meaning is not, that any should use it as an Oracle, which could signify, infallibly, what is divinely alloted; but, to serve only for a Moral Pastime. And, that I may no way encourage the secret entertaining of such a Fantasie, I do before hand affirm unto them, that none but Children, or Idiots may be tolerated to be so foolish, without laughing at.
Yet, if any one shall draw that Lot wherein his Secret vices are reproved; or some good Counsels proposed, which in his own understanding are pertinent to his welfare, let not such as those, pass them over as mere Casualties to them; for, whatsoever these Lots are to others, or in themselves, they are to all these, made pertinent in such cases, both by their particular Knowledges and Occasions.
Some will think perhaps, that I have purposely invented this Game, that I might find means to reprove men's vices, without being suspected, (as I have hitherto unjustly been) to 〈◊〉 at particular persons: For, if any who are notoriously Guiltie, shall by drawing their Chances, among other Companions, be 〈◊〉 with Lots, (which may now and then happen) that those Vices be thereby intimated to the by stan •••• 〈…〉 them guilty they do 〈◊〉 with 〈…〉 be 〈◊〉 at without my 〈…〉 such 〈◊〉 are worthily suspected 〈…〉 •• andalous conversations, either forbear 〈…〉 excus •••• of they be justly sham • d by their 〈◊〉 .
Having thus 〈◊〉 th • • eason of this Inventio • , and made these 〈…〉 every man hath his 〈◊〉 , whether he will make 〈…〉 or no; he th • t will, is left to his 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 how he shall make trial direction is given in the 〈◊〉 Pages of this Book.
This
Game
occasions not the frequent crime,
Of
Swearing,
or misspending of our
Time;
Nor loss of money: For, the
Play
is
short,
And, every
Gamester
winneth by the sport.
We, therefore, know it may as well become
The
Hall,
the
Parlor,
or the
Di
•
ing room,
As
Chess,
or
Tables;
and, we think the
Pr
••
e
Will be as low; because, it needs no
Dice.
[illustration]
What I
WAS,
is passed by,
What I
AM,
away doth fly;
What I
SHAL BEE,
none do see;
Yet, in
that,
my
Beauties
be.
The AVTHORS Meditation upon sight of his PICTVRE.
WHen I behold my
Picture,
and perceive,
How vain it is, our
Portraitures
to leave
In
Lines,
and
Shadows,
(which make shows, today,
Of that which will, tomorrow, fade away)
And, think, what mean
Resemblances
at best,
Are by
Mechanike Instruments
expressed;
I thought it better, much, to leave behind me,
Some
Draught,
in which, my living friends might find me
The same I
am;
in
that,
which will remain,
Till all is ruined, and repaired again:
And, which, in absence, will more truly show me,
Than,
outward Forms,
to those, who think they know me.
For, though my gracious
MAKER
made me such,
That, where I love, beloved I am, as much
As J desire; yet,
Form,
nor
Features
are,
Those
Ornaments,
in which J would appear
To
future Times;
Though they were found in me,
Far better, than I can believe they be.
Much less, affect I
that,
which each man knows,
To be no more, but Counterfeits of those,
Wherein, the
Painters,
or the
Gravers
tool,
Befriends alike, the
Wiseman,
and the
Fool:
And, (when they please) can give him, by their
Art,
The
fairest-Face,
that had the
falsest-Heart.
A
PICTVRE,
though with most exactness made,
Is nothing, but the
Shadow
of a
SHADE.
For, even our
living Bodies,
(though they seem
To others more, or more in our esteem)
Are but the
shadows
of that
Real-being,
Which doth extend beyond the
Fleshly-seeing;
And, cannot be discerned, till we rise
Immortal-Objects,
for
Immortal-eyes.
Our
Everlasting-Substance
lies unseen,
Behind the Fouldings, of a
Carnal-Screene,
Which is, but,
Vapours
thickened into
Blood,
(By due concoction of our daily food)
And, still supplied, out of other
Creatures,
To keep us
living,
by their wasted natures:
Renewing, and decaying, every Day,
Until that
Vail
must be removed away.
For, this loved
Flesh,
wherewith, yet clothed we go,
Is not the same, we had sev'n years ago;
But, rather, something which is taken-in,
To serve instead of what hath wasted been,
In
Wounds,
in
Sicknesses,
in
Colds,
and
Heates,
In all
Excrescions,
and in
Fumes,
and
Sweates.
Nor shall, this present
Flesh,
long stay with us:
And, we may well be pleased, it should be
Thus.
For, as I view, those Towns, and Fields, that be
In Landskip drawn; Even so, me thinks, I see
A Glimpes, far off, (through
FAITH'S Prospective glass
Of that, which after
Death,
will come to pass;
And, likewise, gained have, such means of seeing,
Some things, which were, before my
Life
had being,
That, in my
Soul,
I should be discontent,
If, this my
Body
were, more permanent;
Since,
We,
and all
God's
other
Creatures,
here,
Are but the
Pictures,
of what shall appear.
Yet, whilst they
are,
I thankfully would make
That use of them, for their
CREATOR'S
sake,
To which he made them; and, preserve the
Table,
Still,
Faire
and
Full,
as much as I were able,
By finishing, (in my allotted place)
Those
Works,
for which, he fits me by his Grace.
And, if a
Wrenne,
a
Wrenn's
just height shall soar,
No
Aegle,
for an
Aegle,
can do more.
If therefore, of my
Labors,
or of
MEE,
Ought shall remain, when I removed, must be,
Let it be that, wherein it may be viewed,
My
MAKERS Image,
was in me renewed:
And, so declare, a dutiful intent,
To do the
Work
I came for, e're I went;
That, I to others, may some
Pattern
be,
Of
Doing-well,
as other men to me,
Have been, whilst I had life: And, let my days
Be summed up, to my
Redeemer's
praise.
So this be gained, I regard it not,
Though, all that I am else, be quite forgot.
To the MAJESTIE of Great Britain, France, and Jreland, the Most Illustrious King, CHARLES; And his excellently beloved, the most gracious Queen MARY.
S
Even years are full expired, Royal SIR,
Since last I kneel'd, an offering to prefer
Before your feet
•
where, now, myself I throw
To pay once more, the
Tributes
which I owe.
As many years are past, most beauteous
QVEENE,
Since witnesses, mine ears and eyes, have been
Of those Perfections; which the general
Fame
Hath sounded forth, in honor of your
Name.
And, both your
beaming-splendors
(oh ye fair,
Thrice blessed, and most fitly-matched PAIRE)
Upon each other, make such bright reflections;
And have so sweetly mingled your
affections,
Your
Praise,
your
Pow're,
your
Virtues,
and your
Beauty:
That, (if preserving of my
Sovereign duty,
This may be said) you do appear, to me,
TWO PERSONS, in One MAIESTY, to be;
To whom, there, appertains (in veneration
Of your large
Worth)
the right of some
Oblation:
And, best, I thought, my
Homage
would be done,
If, thus, the tender were to BOTH-in-ONE.
Which, in this humble GVIFT, my
Love
presents;
And, wisheth it may add to your Contents.
Perhaps it shall: For, though I dare not show
These
Figures,
as well meriting your view;
Nor boast, as if their
Moralls
couched ought,
By which your sacred
Wisdomes
may be taught:
Yet, I have humble
Hopings,
that, they might
Prove, some way, an occasion of delight;
Since mean and common
Objects,
now and then,
Beget contentments in the
greatest-men.
But, that before this
Book,
I should propose
Your praisefull NAMES, there is (as I suppose)
A fair inducement: For, considering these
Are EMBLEMS, whose intention is to please
And profit vulgar Judgments (by the view,
Of what they ought to follow, or eschew.)
And, I well knowing, that your MAIESTIES
Set forth before my
Book,
in
Emblem-wise,
Throughout your Lands, more
Virtues
might convey,
Than many
Volumes,
of these
Emblems,
may;
It seemed
Petty-treason,
to omit
This good occasion of endeavoring it.
For, (if your MAIESTIES, well heeded, were)
Yov, double-treble-four-fold
Emblems
are;
Which, fully to illustrate, would require
The
Wit
I want; or, means to raise, that, higher
Which I have gained; (and, which, as yet, hath flown
By no encouragements, but by her own.)
Of all the
Virtues
OECONOMICAL,
Of
Duties
MORAL and POLITICALL,
Your
Lives
are
Patterns,
and fair EMBLEMS; whether
Considered apart, or both together.
Your CHILDHOODS were bright
Mirrours,
which did show
What Duties
Children,
to their
Parents
owe:
And, by the sequel, we now understand,
That, they who best
obeyed,
can best command.
The glorious
Virtues
of your NVPTIALL-
state,
Your
Courtiers,
find so hard to imitate,
That, they admire them, rather; and, would swear,
(Had others told, what, now they see and hear)
That, all the former Times, were not acquainted,
With such a
Paire,
when
Kings
and
Queens
were
Sainted.
The chastest
Cupids,
and the gamesom'st
Graces,
Are always mingled in your
Deare-embraces.
The mutual enterchanges of your
loves,
May teach affection to the
Turtle doves:
And, such as are with goodly sights, delighted,
May see in
You,
all
Excellence
uni
•
ed.
You, SIR, who bear
Ioves
Thunders in your Fist,
And, (shake this
Islands
EMPIRE when You list)
Did never in your
Orbe,
a
Tempest
move
But, by the Beautious
Mistress
of your
Love
It might be calm'd.
And, in your lofty
Sphere,
Most lovely
QVEENE,
Your Motions ever mere
So smoath, and, so direct; that none can say,
They have withdrawn his Royal-heart awa
•
From Just
Designes;
Which, lo
•
dly speaks your
Praise,
And, intimates much
〈◊〉
than, yet
•
t sa
•
es.
Yea, both Your
Splendors
〈…〉
glorious grow,
And, You, each other have out-vyed so,
In these, and other
Virtues,
that, on You,
Should I confer what praise I think is due,
My
Lines,
(which from that stune have, yet, been clear)
Would Flatt'ry seem, unto an envious ear.
But, what needs
Flatt'ry,
where the
Truth
may teach
To praise, beyond immodest
Flatt'ries
reach?
Or, what needs he to fear a
slandrous-mouth,
Who seeks no
meed,
nor utters more than Truth?
Your Princely
Virtues,
what can better show,
Than
Peace,
and
Plenty,
which have thrived so,
Whilst You have reigned that, yet, no people see,
A
Richer,
or more
Peacefull
time, than we?
Your
Civil Actions
(to the public eye)
Are fair
examples
of
Moralitie,
So manifest; That, if he Truth did sing,
Who said.
The World doth imitate the King
;
My
Muses
dare, with boldness to presage,
A Chast, a Pious, and a Prosperous
Age:
And, that, the storms which, late, these Realms deter'd,
Shall all be quite removed, or defer'd
Till you Ascend; And, future times have seen,
That, your Examples have not followed been.
Thus, you are living
Emblems,
to this
Nation:
Which being marked with heedefull speculation,
May serve, as well, to help us how to see
Our
Happiness,
As, what our
Duties
be.
And, if I might unlock all
Mysteries,
Which do declare, how in a
four-fold-wise,
Your Lives are useful EMBLEMS; I, perchance,
Should vex blind
Zeal,
or anger
Ignorance
;
And, teach well-tempered
Spirits,
how to see,
That, we, for Blessings, oft, Unthankful be.
For, as you,
Both,
Prime
Children
are of those
Two
Sister-Churches,
betwixt whom, yet, grows
Vnseemely
strife
; So,
You
; perhaps, may be
An
Emblem,
how those MOTHERS may agree.
And, not by your
Example,
only, show,
How wrought it may be; but, effect it so.
Yea, peradventure, GOD, united
You,
That, such a blessed UNION might ensue:
And, that, Your
living-lovingly,
together;
Your Christian
hopefullnesse,
of one another;
Your mild
forbearance,
harsh attempts to prove;
Your
mutual waiting,
until
God
shall move
By some
calm-voice,
or peaceful
inspiration,
That
Heart
Which needeth better
Information
;
And, that, your
Charities,
might give a
sign,
How,
•
ll the
Daughters,
of the SPOVSE
Divine
Might reconciled be; And show, that,
Swords,
Flames, Threats,
and
Furie,
make no true
Accords.
GOD grant a better UNION may appear:
Yet, wi
•
h I not the
tolerating
here,
Of
Politic-Agreements
; (further than
Our wholesome
Laws▪
and,
Civil-vows
to man,
With
Piety,
approve) but, such, as may
Make up a blessed CONCORD, every way:
Might it be so; your
Virtues,
would become
A Glorious
Blessing,
to all CHRISTENDOME:
Your EMBLEM should, by future
Generations
;
Be placed among the famous
Constellations,
And,
after-times
(though, Mee, this
Age
despise)
Would think, these
Verses,
had been
Prophecies.
What ever may succeed, my
Pray'rs
and
Powr's
Are this way bent; with
Hope,
that
You
or
Yours
Shall
Helps
(at least) become, that
Breach
to close,
Which, in the SEAMLES-ROBE, yet, wider grows.
SO BE IT: And, let bright your
Glories
be,
For ever, though
You
never shine on MEE.
Your MAIESTIES most Loyall Subject, GEO: WITHER.
By
Knowledge
only,
Life
we gain,
All other things to
Death
pertain.
[illustration]
VIVITVR INGENIO CAETERA MORTIS ERV̄T
ILLVSTRATIO I. Book. 1.
H
Ow Fond are they, who spend their precious Time
In still pursuing their deceiving
Pleasures?
And they, that unto ayery
Titles
clime
Or tire themselves in hoarding up of
Treasures?
For, these are
Death's,
who, when with weariness
They have acquired most, sweeps all away;
And leaves them, for their Labors, to possess
Nought but a raw-bon'd
Carcasse
lapped in clay.
Of twenty hundred thousands, who, this hour
Vaunt much, of those
Possessions
they have got;
Of their new purchac'd
Honors,
or, the
Power,
By which, they seem to have advancit their
Lot:
Of this great
Multitude,
there shall not
Three
Remaine, for any
Future age
to know;
But perish quite, and quite forgotten be,
As
Beasts,
devoured twice ten years ago.
Thou, therefore, who desir'st for aye to live,
And to possess thy
Labors
maugre
Death,
To needful
Arts
and honest
Actions,
give
Thy Spanne of
Time,
and thy short blast of
Breath.
In holy
Studies,
exercise thy
Mind
;
In works of
Charity,
thy
Hands
employ;
That
Knowledge,
and that
Treasure,
seek to find,
Which may enrich thy
Heart
with perfect
Joy.
So, though obscured thou appear, awhile,
Despised, poor, or borne to Fortunes low,
Thy
Virtue
shall acquire a nobler st
•
le,
Then greatest
Kings
are able to bestow:
And, gain thee those
Possessions,
which, nor
They,
Nor
Time,
nor
Death,
have power to take away.
The Man that hath true
Wisdom
got,
Continues
firm,
and
wavers
not.
[illustration]
SAPIENTIA CONSTANS
ILLVSTR. II. Book. 1.
S
Till fixed, and with triumphant
Laurell
crowned,
Is truest
Wisdom
; whom, expressed thus,
Among the old
Impresa's,
we have found;
And, much, this
Emblem
hath instructed us.
For, hence we learn; that,
Wisdom
doth not flow
From those inconstant men, whom every
Blast,
Or small
Occasion,
turneth to and fro;
But, from a
Settled-head
that standeth
fast.
Who'ever shoulders, him, he gives no place;
What
Storm
soe're, his
Times
or
Fortunes,
breath,
He neither hides his
Brow,
nor turns his
Face
;
But, keeps his Lookes undaunted, even in
Death.
The
Laureat-head,
upon the
Pillar
set,
Thus signifies; And that
Bay-wreath
doth show
That constant
Wisdom
will the conquest get,
When giddy
Policy
prevails not so.
If, therefore, thou desirest to be taught,
Propose good
Ends
with honest
Means
thereto,
And therein
Constant
be, till thou hast brought
To perfect
end,
that
Work,
thou hast to do.
Let neither flatt'ring
Pleasures,
nor
Disgrace,
Nor scoffing
Censures,
nor the cunning
Sleigh
•
s
Of glozing
Sycophants,
divert that
Race
To which, a harmless
Prudence,
thee invites.
Though others plot, conspire, and undermine,
Keep thou a plain right
Path
; and let their
Course,
For no advantage, make thee change from
thine,
Although it (for the present) seems the worse.
He, thus that works, puts
Policy
to School,
And makes the
Machavilian
prove a fool.
The
Law
is given to
direct;
The
Sword,
to
punish
and
protect.
[illustration]
LEX REGIT ET ARMA TVENTVR.
ILLVSTR. III. Book. 1.
W
Hen
God-Almighty
first engrav'd in stone
His holy
Law
; He did not give the same
As if some common Act had then been done;
For, armed with
Fires
and
Thunders,
forth it came.
By which, that great
Law-maker,
might infer
What d
•
eadfull
Vengeance
would on those attend,
Who did against those holy
Precepts
err;
And, that, his
Power,
well-doers could defend.
Thereto, this
Emblem,
also doth agree;
For, loe, before the
Tables
of the
Law,
A naked
Sword
is borne, whose use may be
As well to keep in
Safety,
as in
Awe.
Whence,
Princes
(if they please) this note may take,
(And it shall make them happily to reign)
That, many good and wholesome
Laws
to make
Without an
Executioner,
is vain.
It likewise intimates, that such as are
In
Sovereign place,
as well obliged be
Their zeal for true
Religion
to declare,
As, what concerneth
Manners,
to foresee.
It lastly, shows that
Princes
should affect
Not only, over others to
Command,
But
Swords
to wear, their
Subjects
to protect;
And, for their
Guard,
extend a willing hand.
For,
Laws,
or
Peace
to boast of; and, the whiles,
The
Public-weal,
to weaken or disarm,
Is nor the way to hinder
Civil-Broyles,
Nor to secure it from a
Forraigne-harm.
For, As by
Laws
a Land is kept in f
•
ame;
So,
Arms
is that, which must protect the same.
Occasions-past
are sought in vain;
But, oft, they
wheel-about
again.
[illustration]
NE TENEAR
ILLVSTR. IV. Book. 1.
U
Nwise are they that spend their youthful
Prime
In Vanities; as if they did suppose
That men, at pleasure, might redeem the
Time
;
For, they a fair advantage fondly lose.
As ill-advised be those, who having lost
The first
Occasions,
to
Despa
•
ring
run:
For,
Time
hath
Revolutions
; and, the most,
For their Affaires, have
Seasons
more, then one.
Nor is their Folly small, who much depend
On
Transitorie things,
as if their Pour
Could bring to pass what should not have an
End
;
Or compass that, which
Time
will not devour.
The first
Occasions,
therefore, see thou take
(Which offered are) to bring thy hopes about;
And, mind thou, still, what
Haste
away they make,
Before thy swift-pacit hours are quite run out.
Yet, if an
Opportunity
be past,
Despair not thou, as they that hopeless be;
Since,
Time
may so revolve again, at last,
That
New-Occasions
may be offered thee.
And see, thou trust not on those fading things,
Which by thine own
Endeavors
thou acquir'st:
For,
Time
(which her own
Births
to ruin brings)
Will spare, nor
thee,
nor ought which thou desir'st.
His
Properties,
and
Uses,
what they are,
In vain observed will be, when he is fled:
That, they in season, therefore, may appear,
Our
Emblem,
thus, hath him deciphered;
Balde
save before, and standing on a
Wheel
;
A
Razor
in his Hand, a
Winged-Heele.
By
Labor, Virtue
may be gained;
By
Virtue, Glory
is attained.
[illustration]
LABORE VIRTVS, VIRTVTE GLORIA PARATVR
ILLVSTR. V. Book. I,
S
Vppose you
Sirs,
those mimicke
Apes
you meet
In strange fantasticke habits? or the Rabble,
That in gay clothes embroyder out the street,
Are truly of
Worshipful
or
Honorable?
Or can you think, that, To be borne the Son
Of some rich
Alderman,
or ancient
Peer,
Or that the
Fame
our Predecessors won
May claim those
Wreathes
which true
Deserving
wear?
Is
Honor
due to those, who spend their days
In courting one another? or consuming
Their Fortunes and themselves, on Drabbs and Plays?
In sl
•
eping, drinking, and Tobacco-fuming?
Not so. For, (though such
Fools,
like children, place
Gay
Titles
on each other)
Wise-men
know
What slaves they be; how miserably-base;
And, where such
Attributes
would better show.
An idle
Body
clothes a vicious
Mind
;
And, what (at best) is purchac'd by the same,
Is nothing else, but stinking
Smoke
and
Wind
;
Or froth
•
e
Bubbles
of an empty
Fame.
True
Glory,
none did ever purchase, yet,
T
•
ll, to be
Virtuous
they could first attain,
Nor shall those men fai
•
e
Virtues
favor get,
Who
labor
not, such
Dignities
to gain.
And, this
Impresa
doth infer no less:
For, by the
Spade,
is
Labor
here implide;
The
Snake,
a virtuous
Prudence,
doth express;
And,
Glory,
by the
Wreath
is Typiside.
For, where a virtuous
Industry
is found,
She, shall with Wreaths of
G
•
ory,
thus be crowned.
Though
Fortune
prove true
Virtues
Foe,
It cannot work her Overthrowe.
[illustration]
NON OBEST VIRTVTI SORS.
ILLVSTR. VI. Book. 1.
U
Nhappy men are they, whose Ignorance
So slaves them to the
Fortunes
of the Time,
That they (attending on the Lot of
Chance
)
Neglect by
Virtue,
and
Deserts,
to clime.
Poor
Heights
they be which
Fortune
rears unto;
And, fickle is the
Favor
she bestows:
To-day, she makes; to-morrow, doth undo;
Builds up, and in an instant overthrows.
On easy
Wheeles,
to Wealth, and Honors high,
She winds men oft, before they be aware;
And, when they dream of most
Prosperity,
Down, headlong, throws them lower then they were.
You, then, that seek a more assured estate,
On good, and honest
Objects,
fixe your
Mind,
And follow
Virtue,
that you may a
Fate
Exempt from fear of Change, or Dangers, find.
For, he that's
Virtuous,
whether high or low
His
Fortune
seems (or whether foul or fair
His
Path
he finds) or whether friend, or foe,
The
World
doth prove; regards it not a hair.
His
Loss
is
Gaine
; his
Poverty
is
Wealth
;
The Worlds
Contempt,
he makes his
Diadem
;
In
Sickness,
he rejoiceth, as in
Health
:
Yea,
Death
it self, becometh
Life,
to him.
He fears no disrespect, no bitter scorn,
Nor subtle plottings, nor Oppressions force;
Nay, though the World should topsie-turvie turn,
It cannot fright him, nor divert his Course.
Above all Earthly pours his
Virtue
rears him;
And, up with
Eglets
wings, to Heaven it bears him.
A fickle
Woman
wanton grown,
Preferres a
Crowd,
before a
Crown.
[illustration]
NON SCEPTRO SED PLECTRO DVCITVR
ILLVSTR. VII. Book. 1.
F
Oole!
Dost thou hope, thine
Honors,
or thy
Gold,
Shall gain thee
Love?
Or, that thou hast her heart
Whose hand upon thy tempting
Bay
•
lays hold?
Alas! fond
Lover,
thou deceived art.
She that with
Wealth,
and
Titles,
can be won,
Or wooed with
Vanities,
will way ring be;
And, when her Love, thou most dependest on,
A
Fiddle-stick
shall win her heart from thee.
To
Youth
and
Music, Venus
leaneth most;
And (though her hand she on the
Scepter
lay)
Let
Greatness,
of her Favors never boast:
For,
Heart
and
Eye,
are bent another way.
And lo, no glorious Purchace that Man gets,
Who hath with such poor
Trifles,
wooed, and won:
Her footing, on a
Ball,
his
Mistress
sets,
Which in a moment slips, and she is gone.
A
Woman,
merely with an
Out side
caught,
Or tempted with a
Galliard,
or a
Song,
Will him forsake (whom she most lovely thought)
For
Players
and for
Tumblers,
ereit be long.
You, then, that wish your
Love
should ever last,
(And would enjoy
Affection
without changing)
Love
where your
Loves
may worthily be plac
•
t;
And, keep your own
Affection,
still from ranging.
Use noble
Means,
your Longings to attain;
Seek equal
Minds,
and well beseeming
Yeares:
They are (at best) vain
Fools,
whom
Folly
gain;
But, there is
Bliss,
where,
Virtue
most endeares:
And, wheresoe're, Affection
she
procures,
In spite of all
Temptations,
it endures.
This Ragge of
Death,
which thou shalt see,
Consider it; And
Pious
be.
[illustration]
IN HVNC INTVENS PIVS ESTO
ILLVSTR. VIII. Book. I.
W
Hy, silly Man! so much admirest thou
Thy present
Fortune?
overvaluing so
Thy
Person,
or the beauty of thy
Brow?
And
Cloth'd,
so proudly, wherefore dost thou go?
Why dost thou live in riotous
Excess?
And
Boast,
as if thy Flesh immortal were?
Why dost thou gather so? Why so oppress?
And, over thy Fellow-creatures,
Domineere?
Behold this
Emblem,
such a thing was he
Whom this doth represent as now thou art;
And, such a Fleshlesse
Raw-bone
shalt thou be,
Though, yet, thou seem to act a comelier part.
Observe it well; and mark what
Vglinesse
Stares through the sightlesse
Eye holes,
from within:
Note those lean
Craggs,
and with what
Gastlinesse,
That horrid
Countenance
doth seem to grin.
Yea, view it well; and having seen the same
Plucke down that
Pride
which puffs thy heart so high;
Of thy
Proportion
boast not and (for shame)
Repent thee of thy sinful
Vanity.
And, having learned, that, all men must become
Such bare
Anatomies
; and, how this
Fate
No mortal
Pour,
nor
Wit,
can keep thee from;
Live so, that
Death
may better thy estate.
Consider who created thee; and why:
Renew thy
Spirit,
ere thy
Flesh
decays:
More
Pious
grow; Affect more
Honesty
;
And seek hereafter thy
Creatours
praise.
So though of
Breath
and
Beauty
Time deprive thee,
New
Life,
with endless
Glory, God
will give thee.
Before thou bring thy
Works
to Light,
Consider on them, in the
Night.
[illustration]
IN NOCTE CONSILIV̄
ILLVSTR. IX. Book. 1.
A
N
Owl
(the
Hieroglyphic
used for
Night
)
Twixt
Mercury
and
Pallas,
here takes place,
Upon a crowned
Caduceus
fixed upright;
And, each a
Cornucopia
doth embrace.
Through which dark
Emblem,
I this Light perceive;
That, such as would the
Wit
and
Wealth
acquire,
Which may the
Crown
of approbation have,
Must
wake by Night,
to compass their desire.
For, this
Mercurian-Wand,
doth
Wit
express;
The
Cornu-copia, Wealthinesse
implies;
Both gained by a studious
Watchfulness
;
Which, here, the
Bird of Athens
signifies.
Nor, by this
Emblem,
are we taught alone,
That, (when great
Vndertakings
are intended)
We
Sloth,
and lumpish
Drowsinesse
must shun;
But,
Rashness,
also, here is reprehended.
Take Counsel of thy Pillow,
(saith our
Sawe
)
And, ere in weighty Matters thou proceed,
Consider well upon them; lest they draw
Some Afterclaps, which may thy Mischiefe breed.
I, for my seriou'st
Muses,
choose the
Night
;
(More friend to
Meditation,
then the
Day
)
That neither Noyse, nor Objects of the
Sight,
Nor bus'nesses, withdraw my
Thoughts
away,
By
Night,
we best may ruminate upon
Our
Purposes
; Then, best, we may inquire
What
Actions
we amiss, or well, have done;
And, then, may best into our
Selves
retire:
For, of the
World-without,
when most we see,
Then, blindest to the
World-within,
are we.
An
Innocent
no
Danger
fears,
How great soever it appears.
[illustration]
SPERNIT PERICULA VIRT{US}
ILLVSTR. X. Book. I.
W
Hen some did seek
Arion
to have drowned,
He, with a dreadlesse heart his Temples crowned;
And, when to drench him in the Seas they meant,
He played on his melodious-
Instrument
;
To show, that
Innocence
disdained Fear,
Though to be swallowed in the
Deeps
it were.
Nor did it perish: For, upon her Back
A
Dolphin
took him, for his
Music's
sake:
To intimate, that
Virtue
shall prevail
With
Bruitish
Creatures, if with
Men
it fail.
Most vain is then their Hope, who dream they can
Make wretched, or undo, an
Honest-Man
:
For, he whom Virtuous
Innocence
adorns,
Insults over
Cruelties
; and,
Perill
scorns.
Yea, that, by which, Men purpose to
undo
him,
(In their despite) shall bring great
Honors
to him.
Arion
-like, the Malice of the
World,
Hath into
Seas
of
Troubles
often hurled
Deserving Men, although no Cause they had,
But that their
Words
and
Works
sweet
Music
made.
Of all their outward Helps it hath bereft them;
Nor means, nor hopes of Comfort have been left them;
But such, as in the House of
Mourning
are,
And, what
Good-Conscience
can afford them there.
Yet,
Dolphin-like,
their
Innocence
hath reared
Their Heads above those
Dangers
that appeared.
God
hath vouchsafed their harmless
Cause
to heed,
And even in Thraldome, so their Hearts hath freed,
That, whilst they seemed oppressed and forlorn;
They
Ioyd,
and
Sung,
and
Laugh'd the World to scorn.
When thou a
Dangerous-Way
dost go,
Walk
surely,
though thy pace be
slow.
[illustration]
AD SCOPVM LICET AEGRE ET FRVSTRA
ILLVSTR. X • . Book. 1.
E
Xperience
proves, that Men who trust upon
Their Nat'rall parts, too much, oft lose the
Day,
And, fail in that which else they might have done,
By vainly trifling precious
Time
away.
It also shows, that many Men have fought
With so much
Rashness,
those things they desired,
That they have brought most likely
Hopes
to naught;
And, in the middle of their
Courses,
tired.
And, not a few, are found who so much wrong
God's
Gratiousnesse,
as if their thinkings were,
That (seeing he defers his
Judgments
long)
His
Vengeance,
he, forever, would forbear:
But, such as these may see wherein they fail,
And, what would fitter be for them to do,
If they would contemplate the slow-pac'd
Snaile
;
Or, this our
Hieroglyphic
look into:
For, thence we learn, that
Perseverance
brings
Large Works to end, though slowly they creep on;
And, that
Continuance
perfects many things,
Which seem, at first, unlikely to be done.
It warns, likewise, that some
Affaires
require
More
Heed
then
Haste:
And that the
Course
we take,
Should suite as well our
Strength,
as our
Desire
;
Else (as our
Proverb
saith)
Haste, Waste may make.
And, in a
Mysticke-sense,
it seems to preach
Repentance
and
Amendment,
unto those
Who live, as if they lived beyond
God's
reach;
Because, he long defers deserved Blowes:
For, though
Just-Vengeance
moveth like a
Snaile,
And slowly comes; her coming will not fail.
As, to the
World
I
naked
came,
So,
naked
-stripped I leave the same.
[illustration]
ΠΑΝΤΑ ΛΕΛΟΙΠΑ.
ILLVSTR. XII. Book. 1.
T
hrice happy is that, Man whose
Thoughts
do rear
His Mind above that pitch the
Worldling
flies,
And by his
Contemplations,
hovers where
He views things mortal, with unbleared eyes.
What Trifles then do
Villages
and
Towns
Large
Fields
or
Flocks
of fruitful
Cattle
seem?
Nay, what poor things are
Miters, Scepters, Crowns,
And all those
Glories
which Men most esteem?
Though he that hath among them, his Delight,
Brave things imagines them (because they blind
With some false Luster his beguiled fight)
He that's above them, their mean-Worth may find.
Lord,
to that
Blessed-Station
me convey
Where I may view the
World,
and view her so,
That I her true Condition may survey;
And all her Imperfections rightly know.
Remember me, that once there was a Day
When thou didst wean me from them with content,
Even when shut up within those
Gates
I lay
Through which the
Plague-inflicting Angel
went.
And, let me still remember, that an Houre
Is hourly coming on, wherein I shall
(Though I had all the
World
within my pour)
Be naked stripped, and turned out of all.
But mind me, chiefly, that I never cleave
Too closely to my
Self
; and cause thou me,
Not other Earthly things alone to leave,
But to forsake my
Self
for love of
Thee:
That I may say, now
I have all things left,
Before that I of all things, am berest.
To him a happy
Lot
befalls
That hath a
Ship,
and
pros'prous Gales.
[illustration]
REMIGIO VENTIS{QUE} SECVNDIS
ILLVSTR. XIII. Book. 1.
N
O wonder he a prosp'rous
Voyage
finds
That hath both
Sails
and
Oares
to serve his turn,
And, still, through means of some propitious
Winds
Is to his wished
Harbor,
swiftly borne.
Nor is it much admired, if they that lack
Those aids (on which the
Common faith
depends)
Are from their hoped aims repelled back,
Or made to labor for unfruitful ends.
Yet neither in the
Ship, Wind, Oares,
or
Sails,
Nor in the want of
Outward means,
alone,
Consists it, that our
Hope
succeeds or fails;
But, most in that, which Men least think upon.
For,
some
endeavor, and their Paines are blest
With
Gales
which are so fortunate, that they
Fly safe, and swiftly on, among the best,
Whilst others labor, and are cast away.
Some
others, on this
Worlds
wide
Ocean
float,
And neither
Wind,
nor
Tide
assistant have,
Nor
Saile,
nor
Oare,
nor
Anchor,
nor sound
Boat,
Nor take so much as heed themselves to save;
And yet are safe: A third sort, then, there are
Who neither want fit
Means,
nor yet neglect
The painful-
Industrie,
or honest
Care,
Which
Need
requires; yet find small good effect.
Therefore, let that which you propose, be
Just
;
Then, use the fairest
Means,
to compass it:
And, though
Means
fail, yet foster no mistrust;
But fearelesly, to
God,
your
Course
commit:
For,
He,
to
Faithful Hearts,
and
Honest-Minds
Turnes
Loss
to
Gaine
; and
Stormes
to
prosp'rous Winds.
When
Vice
and
Virtue
Youth shall woo,
It is hard to say, which way 'twill go.
[illustration]
QVID SI SIC
ILLVSTR. XXII. Book. 1.
M
Y hopeful
Friends
at thrice five years and three,
Without a
Guide
(into the World alone)
To seek my
Fortune,
did adventure me;
And, many hazards, I alighted on.
First,
England's
greatest
Rendevouz
I sought,
Where VICE and VERTVE at the highest sit;
And, thither, both a
Mind
and
Body
brought,
For neither of their Services unfit.
Both, wooed my
Youth:
And, both persuaded so,
That (like the
Young man
in our
Emblem
here)
I stood, and cried,
Ah! which way shall I go?
To me so pleasing both their Offers were.
VICE,
Pleasures
best Contentments promist me,
And what the wanton
Flesh
desires to have:
Quoth VERTVE,
I will Wisdom give to thee,
And those brave things, which noblest Minds do crave.
Serve me
said VICE,
and thou shalt soon acquire
All those Atchievements which my Service brings:
Serve me
said VERTVE,
and I will raise thee higher,
Then
VICES
can, and teach thee better things.
Whilst thus they strove to gain me, I espyde
Grim
Death
attending VICE; and, that her Face
Was but a painted
Vizard,
which did hide
The foul'st Deformity that ever was.
LORD,
grant me grace for evermore to view
Her Vglinesse: And, that I viewing it,
Her Falsehoods and allurements may eschew
;
And on fair
VERTVE
my Affection set;
Her Beauties contemplate, her Love embrace,
And by her safe Direction, run my Race.
I
pine,
that others may not perish,
And
waste
my
Self,
their
Life
to cherish.
[illustration]
DVM NVTRIO CONSVMOR
ILLVSTR. XV. Book. 1.
O
Bserve I pray you, how the greedy
Flame
The
Fewell,
on an
Altar
doth consume.
How it destroyeth that which feeds the same,
And how the
Nourisher
away doth fume.
For, so it fares with
Parents
that uphold
Their thriftlesse
Children
in unlawful
Pleasures:
With
Cares,
it wears them out, ere they are old;
And ere their Lives consume, consumes their Treasures.
So fares it with such
Wantons
as do feed
Vnchast Desires; for, every day they grow
Until their
Longing's,
their
Supplies
exceed,
And, quite devour those men that fed them so.
So fares it with all those that spend their
Youth
In lab'ring to enrich ungrateful Men,
Who, growing
Great,
and
Wealthy,
by their Truth,
Return them
Smoke
and
Ashes
back agen.
So fa
•
es it with good
States-men,
who to keep
A thankelesse
Common-wealth
in happy Peace,
Deprive their
Minds
of Rest, their
Eyes
of Sleep,
And, waste themselves, that others may increase.
And, so it fares with Men that pass away
Their time in
Studies,
(and their Healths impair)
That helps to other men become they may,
And, their defective Knowledges, repair.
But, let my
Flesh,
my
Time,
and my
Estate,
Be so consumed; so spent; so wasted be,
That they may nourish
Grace,
and pe
•
fit that
For which all these were first bestowd'd on me:
So when I quite am vanished out of seeing,
I shall enjoy my
Now-concealed-Being.
When to
suppress
us, Men intend,
They make us higher to
ascend.
[illustration]
CONCVSSVS SVRGO
ILLVSTR. XVI. Book. 1.
W
Hen we observe the
Ball,
how to and fro
The
Gamesters
force it; we may ponder thus:
That whilst we live we shall be played with so,
And that the
World
will make her
Game
of us.
Adversities,
one while our hearts contstrain
To stoop, and knock the Pavements of
Despair
;
Hope,
like a Whirle-wind mounts us up again,
Till oft it lose us in the empty air.
Sometimes, above the
Battlements
we look;
Sometimes, we quite below the
Line
are tost:
Another-while, against the
Hazard
struck,
We, but a little want, of being lost.
Detraction, Envy, Mischief,
and
Despight,
One Partie make, and watchfully attend
To catch us when we rise to any
Height
;
Lest we above their hatred should ascend.
Good-Fortune, Praises, Hopes,
and
Industries,
Do side-together, and make
Play
to please us;
But, when by them we think more high to rise,
More great they make our
Fall,
and more disease us.
Yea, they that seek our
Loss,
advance our
Gaine
;
And to our
Wishes,
bring us oft the nigher:
For, we that else upon the Ground had lain,
Are, by their striking of us lifted higher.
When
Balls
against the Stones are hardest thrown,
Then highest up into the Air they fly;
So, when men hurl us (with most fury) down,
We hopeful are to be advanced thereby:
And, when they smite us quite unto the Ground,
Then, up to Heaven, we trust, we shall rebound.
Till
God
hath wrought us to his Will,
The
Hammer
we shall suffer still.
[illustration]
DVM EXTENDAR
ILLVSTR. XVII. Book. 1.
W
Hy should the foolish
World
discourage Men,
In just endurances? or bid them shun
Good
Actions,
'cause they suffer now and then,
For
Doing well,
as if some
Ill
were done?
Ere
Plates
extended are, they must abide
A thousand hamm'rings; And, then that which filled
So little room, it scarce your Hand could hide,
Will serve a goodly
Monument
to gild.
So, he that hopes to win an honest
Name,
Must many blows of
Fortune
undergo,
And hazard, oft, the blast of
Evil-Fame,
Before a
Good-Report
her Trump will blow.
A thousand
Worthies
had unworthily
Been raked up in Ashes and in Clay,
Vnknowne and bury'd in
Obscurity,
If Malice had not filed their Rust away.
But, lo
•
; their lasting praises now are spread,
And raised, by
Adverse-Chance,
to such a height,
That they most glorious are, now they are dead;
And live in
Injuries,
and
Deaths,
despite.
For, by
Afflictions,
man refined grows,
And, (as the
Gold
prepared in the
Fire
)
Receiveth such a
Form
by wrongs and blows,
That he becomes the
Jewel
we desire.
To thee therefore,
Oh God
! Mv Prayers are
Not to be freed from Griefes and Troubles quite:
But, that they may be such as I can bear;
And, serve to make me precious in thy Sight.
This please me shall, though all my Life time, I
Between thine
Anvill
and the
Hammer,
lie.
From thence, where
Nets
and
Snares
are laid,
Make-hast;
lest else you be betrayed.
[illustration]
MATVRA
ILLVSTR. XVIII. Book. 1.
T
He nimble
Spider
from his Entrails draws
A suttle Thread, and curious art doth show
In weaving
Nets,
not much unlike those
Laws
Which catch
Small-Thieves,
and let the
Great-ones
go.
For, as the
Cob-web
takes the lesser
Flies,
When those of larger size break through their
Snares
;
So,
Poor men
smart for little Injuries,
When
Rich-men
scape, whose Guilt is more then theirs.
The
Spider,
also representeth such
Who very curious are in Trifling things,
And neither Cost, nor Time, nor Labor grutch,
In that which neither
Gaine
nor
Pleasure
brings.
But those whom here that
Creature
doth imply
Are chiefly such, who under cunning shows
Of simple-Meanings (or of Curtesie)
Do silly Men unwarily abuse.
Or else, it means those greedy-
Cormorants
Who without touch, of Conscience or Compassion,
Seek how to be enriched by others wants,
And bring the
Poor
to utter Desolation.
Avoyd them therefore, though compel'd by need,
Or if a
Storm
enforce, (ye lab'ring
Bees
)
That ye must fall among them; Fly with speed
From their Commerce, when
Calmes
your passage frees.
Much more, let wasteful
Gallants
haste from these;
Else, when those Idling-painted-
Butterflies,
Have flutter'd-out their
Summer-time,
in ease,
(And spent their Wealth in foolish Vanities)
The Blasts of
Want
may force them to be brought
For shelter thither, where they shall be caught.
When thou a
Dangerous-Way
dost go,
Walk
surely,
though thy pace be
slow.
[illustration]
LENTE SED ATTENTE
ILLVSTR. XXI. Book. 1.
E
Xperience
proves, that Men who trust upon
Their Nat'rall parts, too much, oft lose the
Day,
And, fail in that which else they might have done,
By vainly trifling precious
Time
away.
It also shows, that many Men have sought
With so much
Rashness,
those things they desired,
That they have brought most likely
Hopes
to naught;
And, in the middle of their
Courses,
tired.
And, not a few, are found who so much wrong
God's
Gratiousnesse,
as if their thinkings were,
That (seeing he defers his
Judgments
long)
His
Vengeance,
he, forever, would forbear:
But, such as these may see wherein they fail,
And, what would fitter be for them to do,
If they would contemplate the slow-pac'd
Snaile
;
Or, this our
Hieroglyphic
look into:
For, thence we learn, that
Perseverance
brings
Large Works to end, though slowly they creep on;
And, that
Continuance
perfects many things,
Which seem, at first, unlikely to be done.
It warns, likewise, that some
Affaires
require
More
Heed
then
Haste:
And that the
Course
we take,
Should suite as well our
Strength,
as our
Desire
;
Else (as our
Proverb
saith)
Haste, Waste may make.
And, in a
Mysticke-sense,
it seems to preach
Repentance
and
Amendment,
unto those
Who live, as if they lived beyond
God's
reach;
Because, he long defers deserved Blowes:
For, though
Just-Vengeance
moveth like a
Snaile,
And slowly comes; her coming will not fail.
A
Sive,
of shelter maketh show;
But every
Storm
will through it go.
[illustration]
TRANSEAT
ILLVSTR. XX. Book. 1.
S
Ome Men, when for their Actions they procure
A likely color, (be it nere so vain)
Proceede as if their
Projects
were as sure,
As when
Sound Reason
did their Course maintain:
And these not much unlike those
Children
are,
Who through a
Storm
advent'ring desp'rately,
Had rather on their Heads, a
Sive
to bear,
Then
Cov'rings,
that may serve to keep them dry.
For, at a distance that perchance is thought
A helpful
Shelter
; and, yet, proves to those
Who need the same, a
Toy,
which profits naught;
Because, each drop of Ra
•
ne quite through it, goes.
So, they, whose foolish
Projects,
for a while,
Do promise their
Projectors
hopeful ends,
Shall find them, in the
Trial,
to beguile;
And, that both
Shame
and
Want,
on them attends.
Such like is their estate, who, (to appear
Rich-men
to others) do, with Inward-pain,
A gladsome out-ward
Port
desire to bear;
Though they at last nor
Wealth
nor
Credit
gain.
And, such are all those
Hypocrites,
who strive
False
Hearts
beneath
Faire spoken Words
to hyde:
For, they o'
•
evaile themselves but with a
Sive,
Through which, their purposes at length are spyde.
And, then, they either woefully-lament
Their
Bruitish-folly,
or so hardened grow
In Sinning, that they never can repent,
Nay, jest and scoff at their own Overthrow.
But no false
Vail
can serve (when
God
will smite)
To save a
Scorner,
or an
Hypocrite.
Death
is no
Loss,
but rather,
Gaine;
For we by
Dying, Life
attain.
[illustration]
MORS VITAE INITIVM.
ILLVSTR. XXI. Book. 1.
I
Will not blame those grieved Hearts that shed
Becoming-tears,
for their departed Friends;
Nor those who sigh out
Passions
for the
Dead
;
Since, on
Good-natures,
this Disease attends.
When
Sorrow
is conceived, it must have Vent
(In Sighes or Moysture) or the Heart will break;
And, much they aggravate our Discontent,
Who, out of
Season, Reason
seem to speak.
Yet, since our Frailty may require we should
Remembrances
admit to keep us from
Excess in
Griefe:
this
Emblem
here behold,
And take such
Hope
as may our
Tears
become.
The
Wheat,
although a while it lies in Earth,
(And seemeth lost) consumes not quite away;
But, from that
Wombe
receives another
Birth,
And, with
Additions,
riseth from the Clay.
Much more shall
Man
revive, whose worth is more:
For,
Death,
who from our Drosse will us refine,
Unto that other
Life,
becomes the
Door,
Where, we in
Immortality
shall shine.
When once our
Glass
is run, we presently
Give up our
Souls
to
Death
; So
Death
must give
Our
Bodies
back again, that we, thereby,
The
Light
of
Life eternal,
may receive.
The Venom'd
Sting
of
Death
is took away;
And, now, the
Grave,
that was a Place of
Fear,
Is made a
Bed of Rest,
wherein we may
Lye down in
Hope,
and bide in safety, there.
When we are
Borne,
to
Death
-ward straight we run;
And by our
Death,
our
Life
is new-begun.
When
Vice
and
Virtue
Youth shall woo,
It is hard to say, which way 'twill go.
[illustration]
QVO ME VERTĀ NESCIO
ILLVSTR. XXII. Book. 1.
M
Y hopeful
Friends
at thrice five years and three,
Without a
Guide
(into the World alone)
To seek my
Fortune,
did adventure me;
And, many hazards, I alighted on.
First,
England's
greatest
Rendevouz
I sought,
Where VICE and VERTVE at the highest sit;
And, thither, both a
Mind
and
Body
brought,
For neither of their Services unfit.
Both, wooed my
Youth:
And, both persuaded so,
That (like the
Young man
in our
Emblem
here)
I stood, and cried,
Ah! which way shall I go?
To me so pleasing both their Offers were.
VICE,
Pleasures
best Contentments promist me,
And what the wanton
Flesh
desires to have:
Quoth VERTVE,
I will Wisdom give to thee,
And those brave things, which noblest Minds do crave.
Serve me
said VICE,
and thou shalt soon acquire
All those A
•
chievements which my Service brings:
Serve me
said VERTVE,
and I will raise thee higher,
Then
VICES
can, and teach thee better things.
Whilst thus they strove to gain me, I espyde
Grim
Death
attending VICE; and, that her Face
Was but a painted
Vizard,
which did hide
The foul'st Deformity that ever was.
LORD,
grant me grace for evermore to view
Her Vglinesse; And, that I viewing it,
Her Falsehoods and allurements may eschew
;
And on fair
VERTVE
my Affection set
;
Her Beauties contemplate, her Love embrace,
And by her safe Direction, run my Race.
By
Paine,
on
Pleasures
we do seize;
And, we by
Suff'rance,
purchase
Ease.
[illustration]
PATIOR VT POTIAR
ILLVSTR. XXIII. Book. 1.
T
He lick'rish
Bear
to rob the
Honey-Bees
Among their stinging-Swarms thrusts in his paws;
Adventureth to climb up hollow Trees,
And from their
Cells,
the well filled
Combes
he draws:
Right so, the
Sensuall Man
that he may gain
His brutish
Lust,
a thousand perils dares;
And, that his
Lawlesse-will
he may attain,
Nor
Conscience, Credit, Cost,
nor
Labor
spares.
'Twere shameful baseness, therefore, if that he
Who knoweth
Virtue,
and is thought her
Lover,
Should so by any Perills frighted be,
To make him such
Affections
to give-over.
For, why should that
Vain-Crew
whose Valour springs
From beastly
Fury,
or inflamed-
Passion,
Enabled be to compass bolder things,
Then
Sober-Wit,
and
Grave-Consideration?
Or, why should lisping
Wantons,
for their
Lust
So much adventure as one finger, there,
Where we our Lives in hazard would not thrust
For
Virtues
Glory, if it needful were?
For, though her
Sweetness
fast is closed in
With many
Thorns,
and such a Prickling-guard,
That we must smart, before that
Prize
we win,
The
Paine
is followed, with a
Rich Reward.
By
Suff'ring,
I have more
Contentment
had,
Then ever I acquired by
Slothful Ease
;
And, I by
Griefe,
so joyful have been made,
That I will bear my
Cross,
while
God
shall please.
For, so at last my
Soul
may
Joy
procure,
I care not, in my
Flesh
what I endure.
Who by good
Means,
good things would gain,
Shall never
seek,
nor
ask
in vain.
[illustration]
CONSEQVITUR QVODCVN{QUE} PETIT
ILLVSTR. XXIIII. Book. 1.
I
N vain fair
Cynthia
never taketh pains,
Nor faints in foll'wing her desired
Game
;
And, when at any Mark her Bowe she strains,
The winged Arrow surely hits the same.
Her
Picture,
therefore, in this place doth show
The Nature of their
Minds
who
Cynthia
like,
With
Constancy
their
Purposes
pursue,
And faint not till they compass what they seek.
For, naught more
God-like
in this World is found,
Then so
Resolv'd a man,
that nothing may
His
Resolution
alter or confound,
When any task of
Worth,
he doth assay.
Nor, is there greater Baseness, then those
Minds
That from an
Honest-purpose
can be wrought
By
Threatenings, Bribes, Smooth-Gales
or
Boyst'rous-Winds,
What ever color or excuse be brought.
You then, that would, with
Pleasure, Glory
gain,
Diana
like, those modest things require,
Which truly may beseem you to attain;
And stou
•
lie follow that which you desire:
For, changing though the
Mo
•
ne
to us appear,
She holds a firm Dependence on the
Sun
;
And, by a
Constant-Motion,
in her
Sphaere
With him▪ doth in
Conjunction
often run:
So,
Constant-men,
still move their hopes to win;
But, never by a
Motion-indirect
;
Nor, will they stop the Course that they are in,
Until they bring their purpose to effect.
For, whosoever
Honest things
requires,
A
Promise
hath of all that he desires.
Oft
Shooting,
doth not
Archers
make;
But, hitting right the
Mark
they take.
[illustration]
NON QVAM CREBRO SED QVĀ BĒE
ILLVSTR. XXV. Book. 1.
W
Hen to the Fields we walk to look upon
Some skillful
Mark-man
; so much heed we not
How many
Arrows
from his Bowe are gone,
As we observe how nigh the
Mark
he shot:
And, justly we deride that Man who spends
His
Time
and
Shafts,
but never aim doth take
To hit the
White
; or foolishly pretends,
The number of the Shots, doth
Archers
make.
So,
God,
who marketh our Endeavors, here,
Doth not by
tale,
account of them receive;
But, heedeth rather how
well meant
they were,
And, at his
Will
how rightly aim'd we have.
It is not mumbling over thrice a day
A Set of
Ave Mary's,
or of
Creeds,
Or many hours formally to
pray
;
When from a dull
Devotion
it proceeds:
Nor is it, up and down the Land to seek
To find those well breathed
Lecturers,
that can
Preach thrice a
Sabbath,
and six times a week,
Yet be as fresh, as when they first began:
Nor, is it, such like things performed by
Number
Which
God
respects: Nor doth his
Wisdom
crave
Those many
Vanities,
wherewith some cumber
Their
Bodies,
as if those their
Souls
could save.
For, not
Much-doing,
but
Well-doing,
that
Which
God
commands, the
Doer▪
justifies▪
To pray without
Devotion,
is to
Prate
;
And,
Hearing
is but half our
Exercise.
We ought not, therefore, to regard, alone,
How
often,
but how
Well,
the
Work
be done.
With
Patience,
I the
Storm
sustain;
For,
Sun-shine
still doth follow
Rain.
[illustration]
DVRABO
ILLVSTR. XXVI. Book. 1.
T
He little
Squirrell,
hath no other Food
Then that which
Natures
thrifty hand provides;
And, in purveying up and down the Wood,
She many cold wet Stormes, for that, abides.
She lies not heartless in her Mossie
Dray,
Nor feareth to adventure through the
•
aine
;
But skippeth out, and bears it as she may,
Until the Season waxeth calm again.
Right thus, have I and others, often far'd;
For, when we first into the World were brought,
We found but little, for our Use prepared,
Save that, which by
Hard-Labor,
must be sought.
In many
Stormes,
unheeded, we are fain
To seek out needful things; and, smilingly
To jest, at what some others would complain:
That, none might laugh at our
Necessity.
Yea, some have lived on
Huskes,
whilst others fed
On that which was their
Labors
due Reward;
And, were pursued (till they almost were dead)
Without the Worlds Compassion or Regard.
Yet, by
Enduring,
they out-lived the Blast
Of
Adverse-Fortune
; and, with good success,
(Expecting calmer Seasons) at the last,
Arrived at the Port of
Happiness.
Their
Suffring-much,
hath made their
Suffrings
none;
And brought forth
Hopes,
by which, perceive they may,
That
Nights
have but their Turnes; and (they once gone)
Their
Darkness,
makes much welcomer, the
Day.
All
Griefe
shall have an ending, I am sure;
And, therefore, I with
Patience,
will
Endure.
Where
Hellen
is, there, will be
War;
For,
Death
and
Lust,
Companions are.
[illustration]
VBI HELENA IBI TROIA
ILLVSTR. XXVII. Book. 1.
T
Heir foolish Guise, I never could affect,
Who dare, for any cause, the
Stews
frequent:
And, thither, where I justly might suspect
A
Strumpet
lived, as yet, I never went.
For, when (as
Fools
pretend) they go to seek
Experience, where more
Ill
then
Good,
they see;
They venture for their
Knowledge, Adam
like;
And, such as his, will their
Atchievements
be.
Let, therefore, those that would loose
Trulls
detest,
Converse with none, but those that modest are;
For, they that can of
Whoredom
make a Iest,
Will entertain it, ere they be aware.
Chast-Company,
and
Chast-Discourse,
doth make
The Mind more pleased with it, every day;
And,
Frequent views of Wantonness,
will take
The Sense and Hatred, of the
Vice
away.
Some, I have known, by
Harlots
Wiles undone,
Who, but
to see their Fashions,
first pretended;
And, they that went
for Company,
alone,
By sudden Quarrells, there, their Days have ended.
For, in the Lodgings of a
Lustful Woman,
Immodest
Impudence
hath still her Being;
There,
Furie, Fraud,
and
Cruelties
are common:
And, there, is
Want,
and
Shame,
and
Disagreeing.
Even
Beauty,
of it self, stirs loose Desires,
Occasioning both
Iealousies,
and
Feares
;
It kindleth in the Brest, concealed
Fires,
Which burn the Heart, before the
Flame
appears:
And, every day, experienced are we;
That, there, where
Hellen
is,
Troyes
Fate will be.
No Inward
Griefe,
nor outward
Smart,
Can overcome a
Patient-Heart.
[illustration]
VICTRIX PATIENTIA DVRI.
ILLVSTR. XXVIII. Book. 1.
S
Ome
Trees,
when Men oppress their Aged Heads,
(With weighty Stones) they fructify the more;
And, when upon some
Herbs,
the
Gard'ner
treads,
They thrive and prosper, better then before:
So, when the Kings of
Egypt
did oppress
The Sons of
Jacob,
through their Tyrannies;
Their Numbers, every day, did more increase,
Till they grew greater then their Enemies.
So, when the
Jews
and
Gentiles,
join'd their Pour
The
Lord,
and his
Anointed,
to withstand;
(With raging
Furie,
lab'ring to devour
And root the
Gospel,
out of every Land)
The more they rag'd, conspired, and envy'd,
The more they slander'd, scorned, and murdered;
The more, the
Faithful,
still, were multiplied:
And, still, the further, their
Profession
spread.
Yea, so it spread, that quite it overthrew
Even
Tyranny
it self; that, at the last,
The
Patience of the Saints,
most pow'rfull grew,
And
Persecutions
force, to ground was cast.
The self-same Power, true
Patience,
yet retains,
And (though a thousand
Suff
•
rings
wound the same)
She still hath
Hope
enough to ease her pains;
That
Hope,
which keepeth off, all
Fear
and
Shame:
For, 'tis not
Hunger, Cold,
nor
Fire,
nor
Steele,
Nor all the
Scornes
or
Slanders,
we can hear,
Nor any
Torment,
which our
Flesh
can feel,
That conquers us; but, our own Trayt'rous
Fear.
Where,
Honest Minds,
and
Patient
Hearts, are Mares;
They grow victorious, in their
Hardest-Fates.
By
many Strokes,
that Work is done,
Which cannot be performed at
One.
[illustration]
NON VNO STERNITVR ICTV
ILLVSTR. XXIX. Book. 1.
D
Espaire not
Man,
in what thou oughtst to do,
Although thou fail when one
Attempt
is made;
But, add a
New-Endeavor
thereunto,
And, then another, and another, add:
Yea, till thy Power and Life shall quite be spent,
Persist in seeking what thou shouldst desire;
For, he that falleth from a good
Intent,
Deserves not that, to which he did aspire.
Rich
Treasures,
are by
Nature,
placed deep;
And, ere we gain them, we must pierce the
Rocks:
Such
Perills,
also, them, as
Guardians
keep,
That, none can win them without wounds and knocks.
Moreover,
Glories, Thrones
are so sublime,
That, whosoever thinks their Top to gain,
Till many thousand weary steps he clime,
Doth fool himself, by Musings which are vain.
And, yet, there is a
Path way,
which doth lead
Above the highest things that Man can see;
And (though it be not known to all who tread
The
Common-Tract
) it may ascended be.
As, therefore, none should greater things presume
Then well becomes their strength; So, none should fear
(Through
Folly, Sloth,
or
Baseness
) to assume
Those things upon them, which beseeming are.
In
Time,
and by
Degrees
may things be wrought,
That seemed impossible to have been done,
When they were first conceived in the thought;
And, such as these, we may adventure on.
Mine
Arm,
I know, in time will fell an
Oke
;
But, I will nev'r attempt it, at a
Stroke.
Afflictions Fire
consumeth
Sin;
But,
Virtue
taketh Life therein.
[illustration]
NVDRISCO IL BVONO ET SPENGO IL REO
ILLVSTR. XXX. Book. 1
W
Hether the
Salamander
be a
Beast,
Or
Precious-Stone,
which overcomes the
Flame,
It skills not; Since, by either is expressed
The Meaning which we purpose by the same:
Both brook the
Fire
unhurt; And (more then so)
The fiercer and the longer
Heats
there are,
The livelyer in the same the
Beast
will grow;
And, much the brighter, will the
Stone
appear.
This
Crowned-Salamander
in the
Fire,
May, therefore, not unfitly, signify
Th
•
se, who in
Fiery Chariots,
do aspire
Elijah
-like, to
Immortality:
Or, those
Heroicke spirits,
who unharm'd
Have through the
Fires
of
Troubles,
and
Affliction,
(With
Virtue,
and with
Innocence
armed)
Walkt onward, in the
Path-way,
of
Perfection.
The
Fiery-Trial,
which like
Wood
and
Hay,
Consumes the Works of every
Wicked-one
;
(And maketh all their
Hopes
to fume away)
Doth purify what
Faithful-men
have done.
They triumph in the
Flames,
and shall obtain
The glorious
Crown
of
Endless-Happiness,
When all that show of
Bliss
appeareth vain,
Which
Worldly men
have seemed to possess.
For, though some
Sins
and
Follies,
gilded are,
And shine like purest
Gold,
and
Pretious-Stones
;
This
Test,
will find of what
Allay
they were,
And, make them known but
Counterfeited Ones:
For, in this
Fornace,
all such
Wormes
expire;
And, none but
Virtue
liveth in this
Fire.
He, over all the
Stars
doth reign,
That unto
Wisdom
can attain.
[illustration]
SAPIENS DOMINABITVR ASTRIS.
ILLVSTR. XXXI. Book. 1.
I
Am not of their Mind, who think the
Sun,
The
Moon,
the
Planets,
and those glorious
Lights
Which trim the
Sphares,
do in their
Motions
run
To no more purpose, then to please our
Sights.
Nor for distinguishment of
Nights,
and
Days,
Or of the
Seasons,
and the
Times,
alone,
Can I suppose the Hand of
God
displays
Those many
Stars,
we nightly gaze upon:
For, both by
Reason,
and by
Common-sense
We know (and often feel) that from above
The
Planets
have, on us, an
Influence
;
And, that our
Bodies
vary, as they move.
Moreover,
Holy Writ
infers, that these
Have some such power; even in those Places, where
It names
Orion,
and the
Pleiades
;
Which,
Stars
of much inferior Nature are.
Yet, hence conclude not, therefore, that the
Mind
Is by the
Stars
constrained to obey
Their
Influence
; or, so by them inclined,
That, by no means resist the same we may.
For, though they form the
Bodies
temp'rature,
(And though the
Mind
inclineth after that)
By
Grace,
another
Temper
we procure,
Which guides the
Motions
of
Supposed Fate.
The
Soul
of
Man
is nobler then the
Sphaeres
;
And, if it gain the Place which may be had,
Not here alone on Earth, the Rule it bears,
But, is the
Lord,
of all that
God
hath made.
Be
wise in him
; and, if just cause there be,
The
Sun
and
Moon,
shall stand and wait on thee.
A
Princes
most ennobling Parts,
Are Skill in
Arms,
and Love to
Arts.
[illustration]
EX VTROQVE CAESAR
ILLVSTR. XXXII. Book. 1.
R
Ight blest are they on whom
God
hath bestowne
A
King,
whose
Virtues
have approved him
To be an Ornament unto his
Throne,
And as a Luster to his
Diadem.
He seeks not only how to keep in awe
His
People,
by those means that rightful are;
But, doth unto himself, become a
Law,
And, by
Example,
Pious
Ways
declare.
He, loveth
Peace,
and after it pursues;
Yet, if of
War
a just occasion come,
Doth nor
Bellona's
Challenges refuse,
Nor fear, to beat
Defyance
on his
Drum
;
He is as ready, also, to advance
The Lib'rall
Arts,
and from his Lands to drive
All false
Religion, Schism,
and
Ignorance,
As other public profits to contrive.
And, such a
Prince
is not a
Casuall-thing,
The Glories of a
Throne,
by
Chance,
possessing;
Nor merely from his
Parents,
doth he spring,
But, he is rather
God's
immediate
Blessing.
If thou desirest such a
Prince
to be,
Or, to acquire that Worth which may allure
Such
Princes
to vouchsafe some
Grace
to thee;
Their Kingly
Virtues,
labor to procure.
In
Military
Practices delight,
Not for a wicked, or vain-glorious end;
But, to maintain the Cause that is upright,
Or thy distressed
Country
to defend.
And, strive that thou, as excellent mayst be
In
Knowledge,
as, thou art in thy
Degree.
True-Lovers
Lives, in one Heart lie,
Both
Live,
or both together
Dye.
[illustration]
PERSEQVAR EXSTINCTV̄
ILLVSTR. XXXIII. Book. 1.
H
Ee that shall say he
Loves,
and was again
So well-beloved, that neither
He
nor
She
Suspects each other, neither needs to gain
New proofs, that they in all Desires agree;
And, yet, shall cool again in their
Affection,
(And leave to Love) or live till they are
Lovers
The second-time; It some gross Imperfection
In
One
(if not in
Both
) of them discovers.
It was not
Love
which did between them grow;
But, rather, somewhat like unto the same;
Which (having made a fair deceiving
Show
)
Obtain'd, a while, that honorable Name.
For,
False-Affections
will together play
So lovingly; and, oft, so act those Parts
Which real seem; that, for a time, they may
Appeare the
Children
of
Vnfeigned-Hearts:
Yea, Many-times, true
Turtles
are deceived
By counterfeited
Passions,
till their
Love
Of her true
Object
finds her self bereaved;
And, after it, is forced to remove:
But, where
True Love
begetteth, and enjoys
The proper
Object,
which she doth desire,
Nor
Time,
nor
Injury
the same destroys;
But, it continues a
Perpetual Fire.
Like am'
•
ous
Thisbe
to her
Pyramus,
On all occasions, it continues true:
Nor
Night,
nor
Danger,
makes it timorous;
But, through all Pe
•
ills, it will him pursue.
Thus, both in
Life,
in
Death,
in all estates,
True-
Lovers
will be true
Associates.
When
Two
agree in their
Desire,
One
Sparke
will set them
both
on
Fire.
[illustration]
FLAMMESCIT VTERQVE
ILLVSTR. XXXIV. Book. 1.
T
He
Western-Indians,
when they want a Fire
To warm their naked limbs, or dress their Food,
At every need, accomplish their Desire,
By often rubbing of two
Sticks of Wood.
From whence, these
Observations
we may take;
First, that in them whose Natures gentlest are,
A long
Contention
such a Change may make,
As did, before, scarce possible appear.
Next, that when
Two
in
Opposition
be,
Whose power and strength and Malice is the same,
Their struggling Hearts but seldom do agree,
Till they beget, a
Self-devouring-Flame.
And, thirdly, it informs, that those chaste
Fires
Which on
Loves Altars
keep a Lasting-Heat;
Are those, which in two Hearts, two
Like-Desires
Upon each other, mutually beget.
Hence, therefore, learn thou, first, not to contemn
Their
Mildness,
who to anger are not prone;
Lest, many wrongs do stir up
Fires
in them,
And work thee Mischiefe, when thou look'st for none.
Be wary, next, though thou thyself be strong,
How with a pow'rfull Foe thou dost contend;
For, they that wrestle in
Contention,
long,
Will, sure, beshrew their Madness, in the end.
And, if to warm thee by
Loves
Fires thou seek,
Thy
Pe
•
re
in
Yeares,
and
Manners,
pray to find;
Let both your
Aymes,
and
Longings,
be alike;
Be one in
Faith,
and
Will
; and, one in
Mind:
So, you shall reap the fruits of your Desire,
And warm each other with a kindly
Fire.
He that delights to
Plant
and
Set,
Makes
After-Ages
in his
Debt.
[illustration]
POST ERITATI
ILLVSTR. XXXV. Book. 1.
W
Hen I behold the Havocke and the Spoyle,
Which (even within the compass of my Days)
Is made through every quarter of this
I will,
In
Woods
and
Groves
(which were this Kingdoms praise)
And, when I mind with how much greediness,
We seek the present Gaine, in everything;
Not caring (so our
Lust
we may possess)
What Dammage to
Posterity
we bring:
They do, me-thinks, as if they did foresee,
That, some of those, whom they have cause to hate,
Should come in
Future-times,
their Heirs to be:
Or else, why should they such things perpetrate?
For, if they think their
Children
shall succeed;
Or, can believe, that they begot their
Heirs
;
They could not, surely, do so foul a Deed,
As to deface the
Land,
that should be theirs.
What our
Forefathers
planted, we destroy:
Nay, all Men's labors, living heretofore,
And all our own, we lavishly employ
To serve our present
Lusts
; and, for no more.
But, let these careless
Wasters
learn to know,
That, as
Vain-Spoyle
is open
Injury
;
So,
Planting
is a
Debt,
they truly owe,
And ought to pay to their
Posterity.
Self love,
for none, but for it self, doth care;
And, only, for the present, taketh pain:
But,
Charity
for others doth prepare;
And, joys in that, which
Future-Time
shall gain.
If,
After-Ages
may my
Labors
bless;
I care not,
much,
how
Little
I possess.
To
Have,
and not to
Use
the same;
Is not our
Glory,
but our
Shame.
[illustration]
NIL PENNA, SED VSVS
ILLVSTR. XXXVI. Book. 1.
T
He
Ostrich
(though with many
Feathers
trimmed,
And decked with goodly
Plumes
of no mean size)
Is so unwieldy, and so largely limb'd,
That, up into the Air he cannot rise.
And, though in Wings and Feathers, he appears
A goodly
Fowl,
and bears his Head so high,
As if he could oretop the lower
Sphaeres
;
And, far above the towering
Eagles
fly;
So useless are those
Feathers,
and those
Wings,
To gain him
Name
among their aiery Race;
That, he must walk with such Inferior things,
As in this
Common-Region,
have their place.
Such
Fowls
as these, are that
Gay-plumed-Crew,
Which (to high place and Fortunes being borne)
Are men of goodly worth, in outward view;
And, in themselves, deserve naught else but scorn.
For, though their
Trappings,
their
high-lifted Eyes,
Their
Lofty Words,
and their
Much-feared Powers,
Do make them seem
Heroicke, Stout,
and
Wise,
Their Hearts are oft as
fond,
and
faint
as ours.
Such
Animals
as these, are also those
That
Wise,
and
Grave,
and
Learned Men
do seem
In
Title, Habit,
and all
Formal shows
;
Yet, have nor
Wit,
nor
Knowledge,
worth esteem.
And, lastly, such are they; that, having got
Wealth, Knowledge,
and those other
Gifts,
which may
Advance the
Public-Good,
yet, use them not;
But
Feede,
and
Sleep,
and
laze their time away.
He, may be but a
Goose,
which wears the
Quill
;
But, him we praise, that useth it with
Skill.
He, that his
Course
directly Steeres,
Nor
Stormes,
nor
Windy-Censures
fears.
[illustration]
DVM CLAWM RECTVM TENEAM
ILLVSTR. XXXVII. Book. 1.
W
Ee to the
Sea,
this
World
may well compare,
For, every Man which liveth in the same,
Is as a
Pilot,
to some
Vessel
there,
Of little size, or else of larger frame.
Some, have the
Boats
of their own
Life
to guide,
Some, of whole
Families
do row the
Barge,
Some, govern
petty Towneships
too, beside,
(To those compared, which of small
Barkes
have charge)
Some others, rule great
Provinces
; and, they
Resemble
Captains
of huge
Argoses:
But, when of
Kingdoms,
any gain the Sway,
To
Generalls of Fleets,
we liken these.
Each hath his proper
Course
to him assigned,
His
Card,
his Compass, his due
Tacklings,
too;
And, if their Business, as they ought, they mind,
They may accomplish all they have to do.
But, most Men leave the Care of their own
Course,
To judge or follow others, in their ways;
And, when their Follies make their Fortunes worse,
They curse the
Destiny,
which they should praise.
For,
Waves,
and
Winds,
and that oft-changing
Weather
Which many blame, as cause of all their
Losses,
(Though they observe it not) helps bring together
Those
Hopes,
which their own
Wisdom,
often crosses.
Regard not, therefore much, what those things be,
Which come, without thy fault, to thwart thy
Way
;
Nor, how,
Rash-Lookers-on
will censure thee;
But, faithfully, to do thy part, assay:
For, if thou shalt not from this
Counsel
vary,
Let my
Hopes
fail me, if thy
Hopes
miscarry.
A sudden
Death,
with
Shame,
is due
To him, that, swears
What is untrue.
[illustration]
SI SCIENS FALLO.
ILLVSTR. XXXVIII. Book. 1.
W
Hen th'
Ancients
made a solemn
League
or
Vow,
Their Custom was to ratify it, thus;
Before their
Idol God,
they slew a
Sow,
And said aloud;
So be it unto us.
Implying, that, if otherwise they did
Then had been vowed; or, if within their Brest
A
Fraudulent-Intention
had been hid,
They merited such Vsage, as that
Beast.
For, by the
Swine
that they had slaughtred so,
(Which, during Life, was helpful unto none)
Of Life deprived by a sudden blow,
And, then, cast out, that none might feed thereon;
They, mystically did infer; that, he
Who falsify'd that
Oath
which he had sworn,
Deserv'd, by
Sudden-Death,
cut off to be;
And, as a Beast unclean, to lie forlorn.
That Heathenish
Hieroglyphic,
doth imply
This
Christian Doctrine
; that, we should in
Vowes,
In
Leagues,
and
Oaths,
assume no Liberty,
But, what sincerest
Honesty
allows.
By
Swine,
the babbling
Sophisters
are meant,
In
Hieroglyphicall
Signification;
Which we do
Sacrifice,
when our intent
Is free from
Falsehood,
and
Aequivocation.
And, this, let every Man end
•
avour for,
Who loves the Blessings, for just men prepared;
Or, if the Sin he do not much abhor,
At least, the Danger let him well regard:
For, to pursue him,
Vengeance
never leaves,
That
falsely Sweares,
or
willingly Deceives.
Where strong
Desires
are entertained,
The Heart 'twixt
Hope,
and
Fear,
is pained.
[illustration]
SPEQVE METVQVE PAVET
ILLVSTR. XXXIX. Book. 1.
A
Troubled
Mind,
ore-charged with
Desires,
Between great
Hopes,
and no less
Feares
oppressed,
And payned inwardly with secret
Fires,
Was thus, by some, in former times expressed.
A
Smoking Heart,
they placed just betwixt
A
Fastned Anchor,
and a
Bended Bow
;
To which a
Barbed-Arrow
seemed fixed,
And, ready from the
Strayned-String
to go.
The
Smoke
doth
Sighes,
the
Anchor
doth declare
That
Hope,
which keeps us from Despairing quite;
The
Bowe
and
Arrow,
signify that
Fear,
Which doth, perpetually, the Soul affright.
And, by this
Emblem,
it appears to me
That they which are with strong
Desires
oppressed,
(Though good or bad the Object of them be)
In seeking
Pleasures,
find no small unrest:
For, they are not by
Feares,
alone, disturbed,
But, as the
Wiseman
saith, even
Hope-Delayd
Torments the Heart
; and, when
Desire
is curbed,
The Soul becometh sad, and ill-apayd.
A
Groundlesse-Hope,
makes entrance for
Despair,
And with Deceiving shows the Heart betrays:
A
Causeless-Fear,
doth
Reasons
force impair,
And, terrifies the Soul, in doubtful ways.
Yet, quite neglect them not; For,
Hope
repells
That
Griefe
sometimes, which would our Hearts oppress.
And,
Fear
is otherwhile the
Sentinel
Which rouzeth us from dang'rous
Carelesnesse.
Thus,
Both
are good: but,
Both
are Plagues to such,
Who either
Fondly fear,
or
Hope too much.
Those
Fools
whom
Beauties
Flame doth blind,
Feele,
Death,
where
Life
they thought to find.
[illustration]
COSI VIVO PIACER CONDVCEA MORTE
ILLVSTR. XL. Book. 1.
W
Hen you do next behold the wanton
Flies
About the shining
Candle,
come to play,
Until the
Light
thereof hath dim'd their Eyes,
Or, till the
Flame
hath singed their Wings away:
Remember, then, this
Emblem
; and, beware
You be not playing at such harmful Games:
Consider, if there sit no
Female,
there,
That overwarmes you, with her
Beauties Flames.
Take heed, you do not over dally so
As to inflame the Tinder of
Desire
;
But, shun the Mischiefe, e're too late it grow,
Lest you be scorched in that
Foolish-Fire.
For, as those
Wandering-Fires
which in the Night,
Do lead unwary
Travelers
astray,
Alluring them, by their deceiving
Sight,
Till they have altogether lost their way:
Right so, fantasticke
Beauty
doth amaze
The Lust-full
Eye,
allures the
Heart
aside,
Captives the
Senses
(by a sudden blaze)
And, leaves the
Judgment
wholly stupify'd.
Nay, if Men play too long about those
Torches,
Such is the Nature of their wanton
Flame,
That, from their Bodies (unawares) it scorches
Those
Wings
and
Feet,
on which they thither came.
It wasteth (even to nothing) all their
Wealth,
Consumes their precious
Time,
destroys their
Strength,
Bespots their
Honest-Fame,
impaires their
Hea
•
th,
And (when their Fatall Thread is at the length)
That thing, on which their Hope of
Life
is placit,
Shall bring them to
Destruction,
at the last.
Let him, that at
GOD'S Altar
stands,
In
Innocence,
wash his Hands.
[illustration]
PVRIS MANIBVS.
ILLVSTR. XLI. Book. 1.
W
Hen (
Reader
) thou hast first of all survayd
That Reverend
Priest,
which here engraven stands,
In all his Holy
Vestments
array'd,
Endeavouring for
Purifyed-Hands
;
Collect from hence, that, when thou dost appear
To offer Sacrifice of
Praise
or
Prayer,
Thou oughtst the
Robes
of
Righteousness,
to wear,
And, by
Repentance,
thy defects repair.
For, thou, that, with polluted
Hands
presum'st
Before
God's
Altar to present thy Face;
Or, in the
Rags
of thine own
Merits
comest,
Shalt reap
Displeasure,
where thou look'st for
Grace.
Then, if thou be of those that would aspire
A
Priest,
or
Prelate,
in
God's
Church to be;
Be sure, thou fi
•
st those
Ornaments
acquire,
Which, may be suiting to that
High-Degree.
Intrude not, as perhaps too many do,
With
Gifts
unfit, or by an
Evil mean
:
Desire it with a right
Intention
too;
And, seek to keep thy
Conversation
clean.
For, they that have assumed this
Holy-Calling,
With
Hands
impure, and
Hearts
unsanctify'd,
Defame the
Truth
; give others cause of Falling,
And, scandalize their
Brethren,
too, beside:
Yea, to themselves, their very
Sacrifice
Becomes unhallow'd; and, their
Thanks
and
Prayers,
The
God of Purity,
doth so despise,
That, all their
Hopes,
he turneth to
Despaires:
And, all their best Endeavors, countermands,
Till they appear with unpolluted
Hands.
No
Heart
can think, to what strange ends,
The
Tongues
unruely
Motion
tends.
[illustration]
LINGVA OVO TENDIS
ILLVSTR. XLII. Book. 1.
W
Ell-worthy of our better Heeding were,
That
Holy Penman's
Lesson, who hath said,
We should
be slow to Speak, and swift to Hear
;
If, well, the nature of the
Tongue
we weighed.
For, if we let it loose, it getteth
Wings,
And, flies with wanton Carelesnesse, about;
It prateth in all places, of
All things
;
Tells
Truth
and
Lyes,
and babbleth
Secrets
out.
To speak, of things unknown, it taketh leave,
As if it had all Knowledge in Possession;
And,
Mysteries
(which no Man can conceive)
Are thought fit Objects for the
Tongues
Expression.
With
Truth
it mixeth
Errors
; says, unsayes;
And, is the
Preacher
of all
Heresies.
That Heart, which gives it motion, it betrays;
And, utters Curses, Oaths, and Blasphemies.
It spreads all Slanders, which base Envy raiseth;
It moveth Anger, and begetteth Hates:
It blameth
Virtue
; filthy Deeds it praiseth;
And, causeth Vproares, Murthers, and Debates.
Yea, tis the chiefest
Factor
for the Devil;
And, yet, with speeches feignedly-sincere,
It otherwhile reproveth what is Evil,
And, will in Lowly-words, a
Saint
appear.
Now this is known; we, next of all, should learn,
How we may shun the Mischiefe being known;
How, we bad
Tongues,
in
Others,
may discern;
And, how to guide and moderate our
Owne.
And, reason good; for, none can apprehend,
What Mischiefe doth an Evil
Tongue
attend.
The
Mind
should have a fixed Eye
On Objects, that are placed on High.
[illustration]
ΟΥ ΜΕ ΒΛLΨΟΝ ΑΝΩ
ILLVSTR. XLIII. Book. 1.
A
•
eart,
which bore the figure of an
Eye
Wide open to the
Sun
; by some, was used,
When in an
Emblem,
they would signify
A
Mind,
which on Celestial Matters mus'd:
Implying, by the same, that there is naught
Which in this lower
Orbe,
our Eyes can see,
So fit an Object for a manly thought,
As those things, which in Heaven above us be.
God,
gave
Mankind
(above all other Creatures)
A lovely
Form,
and upward-looking
Eye,
(Among the rest of his peculiar
Features
)
That he might lift his
Countenance
on high:
And (having viewed the Beauty, which appears
Within the outward
Sights
circumference)
That he might elevate above the Sphaeres,
The piercing Eye, of his
Intelligence.
Then, higher, and still higher strive to raise
His
Contemplations
Eyes, till they ascend
To gain a glimpse of those eternal
Rayes,
To which all undepraved
Spirits
tend.
For, 'tis the proper nature of the
Mind
(Till fleshly
Thoughts
corrupt it) to despise
Those Lusts whereto the
Body
stands inclined;
And labor always,
upward
to arise.
Some, therefore, thought those
Goblins
which appear
To haunt old
Graves
and
Tombes,
are
Souls
of such,
Who to these loathsome places doomed were,
Because, they doted on the
Flesh
too much.
But, sure we are,
well-minded Men
shall go
To live
above,
when others bide
below.
Those
Fields,
which yet appear not so,
When
Harvest
comes, will
yellow
grow.
[illustration]
FLAVESCENT
ILLVSTR. XLIV. Book. 1.
W
Hen, in the sweet and pleasant Month of
May.
We see both Leaves and Blossomes on the Tree,
And view the
Meadowes
in their best array,
We hop full are a
Ioyfull Spring
to see;
Yet, oft, before the following
Night
be past,
It chanceth, that a
Vapor,
or a
Frost,
Doth all those forward bloomings wholly waste;
And, then, their Sweetness and their
Beauty's
lost.
Such, is the state of every mortal Wight:
In
Youth,
our
Glories,
and our
Lusts
we show;
We fill ourselves with every vain Delight,
And, will most think on that which may insue.
But, let us learn to
heed,
as well as
know,
That,
Spring
doth pass; that,
Summer
steals away;
And, that the
Flow'r
which makes the fairest show,
E're many Weekes, must wither and decay.
And, from this
Emblem,
let each
Lab'ring-Swain
(In whatsoever course of life it be)
Take heart, and hope, amidst his daily pain,
That, of his
Travailes,
he good fruits shall see.
The Plow'd and Harrow'd
Field,
which, to thine eye,
Seemes l
•
ke to be the
Grave,
in which the Seeds
Shall (without hope of rising)
buried
lie,
Becomes the fruitful
Wombe,
where
Plenty
breeds.
There, will be
Corn,
where naught but
Mare
appears;
The Du
•
ty
Seed,
will form a greenish
blade
;
The
Blade,
will rise to
Stemmes
with fruitful
Ears
:
Those
Ears,
will ripen, and be
yellow
made:
So, if in honest
Hopes,
thou persevere,
A Ioyfull
Harvest
will at last appea
•
e.
As soon, as we to
be,
begun;
We did begin, to be
Vndone.
[illustration]
FINIS ABORIGINE PĒDET
ILLVSTR. XLV. Book. 1.
W
Hen some, in former Ages, had a meaning
An
Emblem,
of
Mortality,
to make,
They formed an
Infant,
on a
Deaths-head
leaning,
And, round about, encircled with a
Snake.
The
Child
so pictured, was to signify,
That, from our very
Birth,
our
Dying
springs:
The
Snake,
her
Tatle devouring,
doth imply
The
Revolution,
of all Earthly things.
For, whatsoever hath
beginning,
here,
Beginnes, immediately, to vary from
The same it was; and, doth at last appear
What very few did think it should become.
The solid
Stone,
doth molder into
Earth,
That
Earth,
e're long, to
Water,
rarifies;
That
Water,
gives an
Airy Vapour
birth,
And, thence, a
Fiery-Comet
doth arise:
That, moves, until it self it so impair,
That from a
burning-Meteor,
back again,
It sinketh down, and thickens into
Air
;
That
Air,
becomes a
Cloud
; then,
Drops of Rain:
Those
Drops,
descending on a
Rocky Ground,
There, settle into
Earth,
which more and more,
Do
•
h harden, still; so, running out the
round,
It grows to be the
Stone
it was before.
Thus, All things wheel about; and, each
Beginning,
Made entrance to it own
Destruction,
hath.
The
Life
of
Nature,
entereth in with
Sinning
;
And, is forever, waited on by
Death:
The
Life
of
Grace,
is formed by
Death
to
Sin
;
And, there, doth
Life-eternal,
straight begin.
Though very
small,
at first, it be,
A
Sprout,
at length, becomes a
Tree.
[illustration]
TANDEM FIT ARBOR
ILLVSTR. XLVI. Book. 1.
W
Ee find it common (but not comely thou)
That, when a good
Endeavor
is begot,
Unless, at very first, it equal grow
With our Expectance, we regard it not.
Nor
Wit,
nor
Patience,
have we to conceive,
That everything, which may by Man be wrought,
Proportionable
Time,
and
Means,
must have;
Before it can be to
Perfection,
brought.
Yet, every day, in things of every kind,
Experience
hath informed us, herein;
And, that, in many things, a change we find,
Which, at the first, would scarce believed have been.
For, though a
Gosling
will not prove a
Swan,
Vnruely-Colts
become
well-trained Steeds
;
A
Silly Child
grows up a
Mighty-Man,
And,
Lofty-Trees
do Spring from
Little Seeds.
Learn, therefore hence, that, nothing you despise,
Because it may, at first, imperf
•
ct seem:
And, know, how all things (in some sort) to prize,
Although, you give them not the best esteem.
From hence, moreover, learn; not to despair,
When you have just occasion, to pursue
A toilsome work, or any great affaire:
Since▪
all-things,
at the first, from nothing, grew.
And, I myself will, also, learn, from hence,
(Of all my Paines, though little fruits I see)
Nor to repine, nor to receive Offence;
But, rather joy in what befalleth me.
For, though my
Hopes
appear but meanly grown,
They will be
Great,
when some shall think them none.
When we above the
Cross
can rise,
A
Crown,
for us, prepared lies.
[illustration]
SVPERATA CRVCE CORONOR
ILLVSTR. XLVII. Book. 1.
A
Serpent
raised above the Letter
Tau,
Aspiring to a
Crown,
is figured here:
From whence, a
Christian-Moral
we may draw,
Which worth our good-regarding will appear.
For, by those
Characters,
in brief, I see
Which
Way,
we must to Happiness ascend;
Then, by what
Means,
that Path must clymed be;
And, what
Reward,
shall thereupon attend.
The
Cross,
doth show, that
Suffring
is the
Way
;
The
Serpent,
seems to teach me, that, if I
Will overcome, I must not then, assay
To
force
it; but, myself thereto
apply.
For, by embracing what we shall not shun,
We wind about the
Cross,
till we arise
Above the same; and, then, what
Prize
is won,
The
Crown,
which overtops it, signifies.
Let me, O
God,
obtain from thee the Grace,
To be partaker of thy Blessed
Passion
;
Let me, with Willingnesse, thy
Cross
embrace,
And, share the Comforts of thy
Exaltation.
To bear that Part, whereto I doomed am,
My Heart, with Strength, and Courage,
Lord,
inspire:
Then,
Crucify
my
Flesh
upon the same,
As much as my
Corruption
shall require.
And, when by thy Assistance, I am reared
Above that
Burthen,
which lies yet upon me;
And, over all, which (justly may be feared)
Shall, during Life-time, be inflicted on me;
Among those
Blessed-Souls,
let me be found,
Which, with eternal
Glory,
shall be
Crown'd.
In
Death,
no Difference is made,
Between the
Scepter,
and the
Spade.
[illustration]
MORS SCEPTRA LIGONIB{US} AEQVAT
ILLVSTR. XLVIII. Book. 1.
L
Et no man be so sottish as to dream,
Though all Men in their
Death
made equal are,
That, therefore, they may gather by this
Theame,
That,
Parity,
in Life-time, fitting were.
For, as the
Bodies
Members (which in
Death
Have all the like esteem) had their Degrees,
And Honors, differing in time of
breath
;
The same (in
States
) Discretion comely sees.
Nor, should we hence infer, that it were just
To disesteem the breathless
Carcasses
Of
Kings
and
Princes,
when they sleep in Dust;
For,
Civil-Reverence
is due to these.
Nor, ought we, in their Life-time, to apply
The Truth, which by this
Emblem
is declared,
The
Dignities
of Men to vilify;
Or, bring upon their
Persons
less regard.
That, which from hence, I rather wish to preach,
Is this; that every Man of each degree,
Would mark it so, that he, himself might teach
What thoughts and deeds, to him most proper be.
If he be great; let him remember, then,
That (since, nor
Wealth,
nor
Title,
can procure him
Exemption from the Doomes of other Men)
He ought to seek, how
Virtue
may secure him.
If he be
Poor
; let him this
Comfort
take,
That, though, awhile, he be afflicted here,
Yet,
Death
•
ay him as fully happy make,
As h
•
, that doth a
Crown Imperial
wear.
For, when his Fatall-blow
Death
comes to strike,
He, makes the
Beggar,
and the
King,
alike.
What cannot be by
Force
attained,
By
Leisure,
and
Degrees,
is gained.
[illustration]
PAVLATIM NON IMPETV.
ILLVSTR. XLIX. Book. 1.
S
Ome Foolish-
Boys
(and such a
Boy
was I)
When they at School have certain hours to pass,
(To which they are compel'd unwillingly)
Much time they spend in shaking of the
Glass:
Thus, what they practice, to make-short their stay,
Prolongs it more; for while they seek to force
The
Sands,
to run more speedily away,
They interrupt them; and, they pass the worse.
Right so, in other things, with us it fares;
(And, seeming wise, we act a foolish part)
For, otherwhile, what
Time
alone prepares,
We seek to make the subject of an
Art.
Sometimes, by
Rashness,
we endeavor what
We ought with
Leisure,
and
Advice,
to do:
But, if a good
Success
doth follow, that,
Our
Wit
was nothing helpful thereunto.
Sometime, again, we prosecute a thing
By
Violence
; when our desired effect,
No other means so well to pass can bring,
As
Love
and
Gentlenesse,
which we neglect.
But, let this
Emblem
teach us to regard
What
Way of Working,
to each
Work
pertains:
So, though some Portion of our Hopes be bar'd,
We shall not, altogether, lose our pains.
Some things are
strong,
and, othersome are
weak;
With
Labor,
some; and, some with
Ease
be wrought:
Although the
Reed
will bend, the
Kexe
will break;
And, what
mends
one thing, makes another
naught.
Mark this; And, when much
Haste
will mar thy
Speed,
That, then, thou take good
Leisure
; take thou
Heed.
Of
Little-Gaines,
let Care be had; For, of small
Ears,
great
Mowes
are made.
[illustration]
DE PARVIS GRANDIS A CERWS ERIT.
ILLVSTR. L. Book. 1.
A
Mong the many Faylings of the
Time,
This
Emblem
giveth Cause to mention one,
Which, unto me, doth seem the greater
Crime,
Because, to many, it appeareth none.
I find, that petty things are so neglected
(Well nigh of all) in
Losings
and in
Winnings,
As if, what ere they thought to have effected,
Subsisted without
Members,
or
Beginnings.
The Man, that loseth every
Month a Penny,
May salve-up
Twelve-months
Losses, with a
Shilling.
But, if of other Losses he hath many,
To save a
Pin,
at length, he shall be willing.
For, he that sees his Wine-filled
Vessel
drop,
(Although a
Drop,
in value, be but small)
Should, thence, Occasion take, the
Leake
to stop,
Lest many
Droppings
draine him dry of all.
Moreover, they, that will to
Greatness
rise,
A Course, not much unlike to this, must keep:
They ought not
Small-Beginnings
to despise;
Nor, strive to
run,
before they learn to
creep.
By many single
Ears,
together brought,
The
Hand
is filled; by
Handfulls,
we may gain
A
Sheafe
; with many
Sheaves
a Barn is fraught:
Thus, oft, by
Little,
we do much obtain.
Consider this; And, though I wish not thee
To take, of
Trifling-things,
too great a care;
Yet, know thus much (for truth) it best will be,
If all things may be weighed as they are:
By
slender
Losses,
great
-ones are begun;
By many trifling
Gaines,
much
Wealth
is won.
FINIS
Libri primi.
THE FIRST LOTTERIE.
1
T
Hou, dost overmuch respect
That, which will thy harm effect;
But, some other things there be,
Which will more advantage thee:
Search thy heart; and, thou shalt, there,
Soone discover, what they are:
Yea, thine
Emblem
shows thee, too,
2
It is a little feared, that you
Are to your own Designes, untrue;
And, that, if you more constant were,
You would be richer, then you are,
(It may be, also, wiser, too)
Look, therefore, what you are to do:
Then, follow it, and, you will say,
3
How rich or poor soe're thou be,
Thou, art a
Prince,
in some degree;
And, over thyself, thou shouldst command,
As doth a
Monarch,
in his Land.
Within thy Heart, therefore, engrave
The Laws, that
Grace
and
Nature
gave:
For, thus (to counsel thee) inclines
4
Much Liberty, thou hast assumed;
And, heretofore, so much presumed
On
Time,
which, always rideth poast,
That, for awhile, some
Hopes
are crossed.
But, loe, to keep thee from
Despair,
And, thy
Misfortune,
to repair,
Mark, what to thee, by
Lot,
befell,
5
Thou seekest
Honor,
to obtain,
By means, which frustrate all thy pain.
Thy Predecessors rich were made,
By using of the
Plough
and
Spade
:
Thou, honorable wouldst be thought,
By taking Courses, that are naught;
But, if, right noble, thou wilt be,
M 6
This Man, what ever he may seem,
Is worthy of a high esteem:
Though
Fortune
may, his person, grind;
She, cannot harm him, in his
Mind.
Right blest, this
Company
would be,
If all of them, were such, as
He.
Read that
Impresa,
which he drew;
M
7
If some, now present, this had got,
They, would have blushed, at their
Lot
;
Since, very fit, the same doth prove
For one, that's either light of
Love,
Or, troubled with a fickle
Mate:
If you enjoy a better
Fate,
Yet, hearken, what your
Lot
doth say;
8
For ought, that, plainly, doth appear,
You may out-live the longest, here;
Yet, seeing, now, of all this crew,
The
Lot
of
Death,
you, only, drew,
See what, your
Emblem
hath enjoin'd;
And, still, that Moral, bear in mind:
So,
Deaths
deformed and ghastly
Shade
9
Though you have
Wit,
and, know it well;
That, rash you are, your
Friends
can tell;
Yea,
Sleep,
and
Ease,
possess you so,
That, some do fear, you will sottish grow:
But, lo, your hind'rance, to prevent,
This
Lot,
was, peradventure, sent;
For, in the
Moralls,
that, insue,
10
You, have been wronged, many ways,
Yet,
patient
are; and, that's your praise:
Your
Actions,
also, seemed upright;
Yet, some there are, that, bear you spite:
Lest, therefore, you discouraged grow,
An
Emblem,
you have drawn, to show
What other
Innocents
have borne,
M
11
Doubtless, you are either wooing,
Or, some other
Bus'nesse,
doing;
Which, you shall attempt, in vain,
Or, much hazard all your pain:
Yet, if good, your
meanings
are,
Do not honest
means
forbear;
For, where things are, well, begun,
12
Be not angry, if I tell
That, you love the
World,
too well;
For, this
Lot,
perhaps, you drew,
That, such
Faults,
you might eschew.
Mark, to what their Souls aspire,
Who, true
Blessedness,
desire:
For, if you can do, like those,
13
You love the
Rich
; and, honor them;
The needy person, you contemn:
Yet,
Wealth,
nor want of
Wealth,
is that,
Which,
wretched
makes, or
fortunate
:
From other
Causes,
those things flow;
Which, since, you either do not know,
Or, heed not much, this
Emblem
came,
M
14
Thy
Chance
is doubtful; and, as yet,
I know not, what to say of it;
But, this I know, a foe thou art
To what thine
Emblem
hath, in part,
Expressed by a
Mimicke Shape
;
Or, thou, thyself, art such an
Ape.
Now, which of these, pertains to thee,
15
Thy Virtues he may wrong, that says
Thou spend'st thyself, in wanton ways;
But, some have thought, and said of late,
That, those thou lov'st, consume thy state:
Yet, spare nor
Time,
nor Substance, though,
Where, them, thou oughtest to bestow;
But, to thine
Emblem
turn, and, see
16
Though
Troubles,
you may have (or had)
Enough, to make some others mad;
Yet, be content: for, they, that are
As weak, have had as much to bear;
And, that, which
Malice
did contrive,
To make them poor, hath made them thrive.
That
Emblem,
which, by
Lot,
you drew,
17
Though, you suffer blame and pain,
You, at last, may Comfort gain,
(Sharing
Honors,
truly gotten,
When, your Foes are dead, and rotten)
For, of this, you have a pawn,
In the
Lot,
that you have drawn;
And, by that, it may appear,
18
Take you serious heed, I pray,
Whither, you do go today;
Whom you credit; and, for whom
You, engaged, shall become;
And, unless you wish for Sorrow,
Be as provident, tomorrow:
For, there are some traps and Snares,
19
Your
Wit,
so much, you trust upon,
That, weaker
Means,
hath yours out-gone;
Sometime, you run, when there is need
Of much more
Warinesse,
then
Speed.
But, you, to
God
ward, worse have erred;
And, yet,
Amendment
is defer'd.
See, therefore, what your
Chance
doth say,
〈1 page duplicate〉
〈1 page duplicate〉
20
Take heed, you do not quite forget,
That you are dancing in a
Net
:
More, then a few, your Course do see,
Though, you, suppose, unseen to be.
Your Fault, we will no nearer touch;
Me-thinks your
Emblem
blabs too much:
But, if, you mind, what is amiss,
21
Let such, as draw this
Lot,
have care,
For
Death,
and
Sorrow,
to prepare
All times, to come, lest one of these,
Their persons, unexpected, seize:
For, them, or some of theirs, to slay,
Pale
Death,
draws nearer, every day.
Yet, let them not, disheartened, be:
For, in their
Emblem,
they shall see,
Death,
may (though, in appearance, grim)
22
With
Mary,
thou art one of those,
By whom, the better part, is chose;
And, though, thou tempted art, astray,
Continu'st in a lawful way.
Give
God
the praise, with heart unfaign'd,
That, he, such
Grace
to thee, hath dain'd;
And, view thy
Lot,
where thou shalt see,
23
Although, that, thou demure appear,
For
Pleasure,
there is no man here
Will venture more: And, some there are,
Who think you venture over far:
Hereof, consider well, therefore,
E're, so, you venture, anymore;
And, in your Lotted
Emblem,
see,
24
If ought, thou purpose, to assay,
Pursue the same, without delay;
And, if thou mean to gather fruit,
Be constant in thy
Hopes
pursuit:
For, by thine
Emblem,
thou mayst find,
Thy
Stars,
to thee, are well-inclined;
Provided, thy
Attempts
be good:
25
Take heed, thou love not their deceip
•
,
Who
Number
give, in steed of
Weight
;
Nor, let their Fansies, thee abuse,
Who, such-like foolish
Customs,
use.
Perhaps, it may concern thee, much,
To know the
Vanities
of such;
And, who they are: Mark, therefore, what
26
Thou, to
Impatience,
art inclined;
And, hast a discontented Mind;
That, therefore, thou mayst
Patience
learn,
And, thine own
Over-sights
discern,
Thy
Lot
(as to a School today)
Hath sent thee to the
Squirrells
Dray;
For, she instructs thee, to endure,
27
Your
Lot,
is very much to blame,
Or else, your person, or, your Name
Hath injured been, or, may have wrong
By some loose wanton, ereit be long:
Therefore, e're, hence, you pass away,
Mark, what your
Emblem,
now, doth say.
Perhaps, by drawing of this
Lot,
28
Upon your head, those weights were laid,
Which, your
Endeavors,
downward weighed;
For, those, who do your
weal
envy,
Much fear, your top will spring too high;
Nay, yet, some
Burthen,
you sustain:
But, what their
Malice
will obtain,
Your
Emblem
prophesies; if you,
29
This
Lot,
befell thee, for the nonce;
For, if things come not, all at once,
Thou, to despairing, soon, dost run,
Or, leave'st the Work, that's well begun:
Which, to prevent, regardful be
30
Afflictions, are thy chiefest
Lot
;
Yea, great ones, too: yet, murmur not.
For, all, must fiery trials bide,
And, from their Drosse be purify'd.
Therefore, though this, in sport, be done,
Thy Moral'd
Emblem,
look upon;
And, learn, those
Virtues
to acquire,
31
You seek a
Lot,
which, proving bad,
Would, peradventure, make you sad;
But, this may please: for, you are taught
To mend a Fortune, that is naught;
And, armed, with such Counsel, here,
That, you, no
Destiny,
need fear.
Now, if you come to Harme, or Shame,
M
32
In
Court,
thou mayst have hope, to clime,
This present, or some other time;
But, something thou dost want, as yet,
Which, for that place, must make thee fit.
Presume not, therefore, on thy
Lot,
Till, those accomplishments are got,
Which, in thine
Emblem,
are expressed;
33
Some think, you love; 'tis true, you do;
And, are as well beloved too:
But, you (if we the truth shall say)
Love not so truly, as you may.
To make a perfect
Love,
there goes
Much more, then every
Lover
knows.
Your
Emblem,
therefore heed; and, then,
34
Now, some good
Counsel,
thou dost need;
Of what we say, take, therefore, heed.
Beware, left thou, too much, offend
A meek, and, gentle-natured,
Friend
:
Though power thou hast, be careful, too,
Thou vex not, long, thine able
Foe
;
And, e're thou love, be sure to find
Thy
Match,
in
Manners,
and in
Mind.
If thou demand a Reason, why,
35
Beware, thou share not in their crime,
Who care, but for the present time:
For, by thy
Lot,
we may suspect,
Or that, or things, to that effect.
If so it be, or if thy Mind,
To such an
Error,
be inclined,
Thy
Chance
unto an
Emblem,
brings,
36
You, love to
seem
; this, all Men see:
But, would you loved, as well, to
be.
If, also, better use were made
Of those good
Blessings,
you have had;
Your praise were more. Mark, therefore, well,
What
Moralls,
now, your
Emblem,
tell;
And, gather, from it, what you may,
37
To scape a Storm, great thought you take;
But, little heed, what
means
you make.
You, love your ease, and, Troubles, fear;
But, careless are, what
Course
you steer.
Which
Indiscretions,
to prevent,
You, to an
Emblem,
now, are sent:
Whereof, if you regardful are,
38
What you have, done, consider, now;
For, this your
Chance,
doth seem to show
That you have sworn, or vowed, of late,
Or promised (you best know what)
Which, you have, since, unwilling been,
To keep; or, else, did fail, therein.
If it be so; repent, or else,
39
Thy
Hopings,
and thy
Feares,
are such,
That, they afflict, and pain thee, much;
Because, thou givest too great a scope
Unto thy
Fear,
or to thy
Hope
:
For, they will pain, or pleasure thee,
As they enlarged, or curbed be.
But, lo; thine
Emblem,
if thou please,
40
Let them, who get this
Chance,
beware,
Lest
Cupid
snarl them in a Snare:
For, by their
Lot,
they should be apt
To be, in such-like Ginnes, intrapt.
Some help, is by their
Emblem,
got,
If they, too late, observe it not;
But, then, no profit will be done them:
41
Whether, merely,
Chance,
or no,
Brought this
Lot,
we do not know:
But, received, let it be,
As, divinely, sent to thee:
For, that, merits thy regard,
Which, thine
Emblem
hath declared;
And, the best, that are, have need,
42
Thou, hast already, or, e're long,
Shalt have some damage by the
Tongue:
But, fully, yet, it is not known,
Whether the
Tongue
shall be thine own,
Or else, another's
tongue,
from whom
This Mischiefe, unto thee, shall come:
But, much the better, thou shalt speed,
43
Vnworthy things, thou dost affect,
With somewhat overmuch respect;
Unto the
World,
inclining so,
As if thy Hopes were all below:
But, now, to rouse thee from this crime,
Good
Counsel
comes in happy time.
Make use thereof; and, think it not
44
Thou, either, too much love, hast placit
On things, that will not always last;
Or else, thou art a little scared.
Because thy Hopes are long defer'd:
Nay, thou art touched, in both of these.
Thy Profit, therefore, and thine ease,
It will effect, if well thou mind
45
When thou hast
Changes,
good, or bad,
Ore-joy'd, thou art, or over-sad;
As if it seemed very strange
To see the
Wind
or
Weather,
change:
Lo, therefore, to remember thee,
How changeable, things Mortall, be,
Thou, art assisted by this
Lot
;
46
Of thy just
Aymes,
though means be slight,
Thou mayst attain their wished height;
Unless, thy Folly shall destroy
The Weale, thou seekest to enjoy,
By thy Despair, or by neglect
Of that, which, may thy
Hopes
effect:
For, by thine
Emblem,
thou mayst know,
47
Thou must have
Crosses
; but they, shall,
To
Blessings,
be converted, all;
And,
Suffrings,
will become, thy Praise,
If,
Wisdom
order, well thy ways:
Yea, when thy
Crosses
ended are,
A Crown of Glory, thou shalt wear.
Yet, note, how this to pass is brought:
48
If they, who drew this
Lot,
now be
Of great
Estate,
or high
Degree,
They shall ere long, become as poor,
As those, that beg from door to door.
If poor they be; it plain appears,
They shall become great
Princes
Peers:
And, in their
Emblem,
they may know,
49
You, have attempted many a thing,
Which, you, to pass, could never bring;
Not, that, your Work was hard to do,
But, 'cause, you used wrong
Means,
thereto.
Hereafter, therefore, learn, I pray,
The
Times
of Working, and, the
Way
;
And, of thine
Emblem,
take thou heed,
50
If you, to greater
Wealth,
will rise,
You must not, slender
Gaine,
despise;
Nay, if, you mind not, to be poor,
You must regard slight Losses, more:
For,
Wealth,
and
Poverty,
do come,
Not all at once, but, some and some.
If this, concern you, any ways,
51
Your
Fortune,
hath deserved thank,
That she, on you, bestows a
Blank
:
For, as you, nothing good, have had;
So, you, have nothing, that is bad.
Yea, she, in this, hath favor shown,
(If, now, your
Freedom
well be known)
For, you, by
Lot,
these
Emblems,
mist,
That you, may choose out, which you list.
52
You, by an
Emblem,
seek to get
What Counsel your
Affaires
may fit;
But, in particular, there's none,
Which, you, by
Lot,
can light upon:
And, why? because, no
Moral,
there,
Doth, worthy of your Heed, appear?
No; but because you rather, need,
Of every
Emblem,
to take heed.
53
The
Stars,
are, now, no friends of your,
Or this is not their lucky hour:
For, at this time, unto your
Lot,
They, by an
Emblem,
answer not.
If, therefore, you desire to know
What good advice they will allow,
Some further
Means,
you must assay,
Or, try your
Chance,
another day,
54
You, in your secret thoughts, despise
To think an
Emblem
should advise,
Or give you cause to mind or heed
Those things, whereof you may have need▪
And, therefore, when, the
Lot,
you tried,
An answer, justly, was denied.
Yet (by your leave) there are but few,
Who, need good
Counsel,
more then you.
55
In some extreme, you often are,
And, shoot too short, or else too far;
Yea, such an error, you were in,
When, for a
Lot,
you moved the
Pin:
For, one touch more, or less, had laid
Our
Index,
where it should have stayed.
But, if you can be warned, by this,
To keep the
Mean,
which oft you miss,
You have obtained as good a
Lot,
As any one, this day, hath got.
56
Among these
Emblems,
none there be,
Which, now by
Lot
will fall to thee;
However, do not thou repine:
For, this doth seem to be a sign,
That, thou, thy Portion, shalt advance
By
Virtue,
not by fickle
Chance.
Yet, nerethelesse, despise thou not
What, by good
Fortune,
may be got.
FINIS.
A COLLECTION OF EMBLEMES, ANCIENT AND MODERNE: Quickened WITH METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS; And, disposed into LOTTERIES, both Moral and Divine.
That Jnstruction, and Good Counsel, may be furthered by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation.
By GEORGE WITHER.
The Second Book.
[illustration]
LONDON,
Printed by AUGUSTINE MATHEWES. MDCXXXIV.
TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY Prince, CHARLES, Prince of Wales, &c.
FAir'st
Blossome
of our hopes; and
Morning-star
To all these
Islands,
which enclosed are
By
Neptunes
arms, within our Northern
cli
•
nes
;
And who (we trust) shall rise, in future times,
To be the brightest
Light,
that, then will shine,
Betwixt the
Artick-Circle,
and the LINE.
To Yov (as now you are) that I present
These EMBLEMS, 'tis not so impertinent
As those may think it, who have neither seen
What, of your
Cradle-sports,
hath heeded been;
Nor heard how many serious
Questionings,
Your
Child-hood
frameth, out of trifling things:
And, if mine aim I have not much mistook,
I come not oversoone with such a
Book.
So long as in this
Infant-Age
you are,
(Wherein, the speechless
Portraitures
appear
A pleasurefull delight) your HIGHNESSE may
Among our EMBLEMS, find a
Harmelesse-play
:
And, those mute
Objects
will from time to time,
Still
Riper,
seem, till you to
ripeness
clime.
When their dumb
Figures,
no more sport can make,
Their
Illustrations,
will begin to speak,
And, every day, new matter still disclose,
Until your
Judgment
to perfection grows.
They likewise, who their
Services,
to do
Frequent your
Presence,
may have pleasure too,
From this your
Play-game:
yea, and some perchance,
May cure a
Folly,
or an
Ignorance
By that, which they shall either hear or view
In these our
Emblems,
when they wait on
You
;
Or, shall be called, by your EXCELLENCE,
To try what LOT, they shall obtain from thence.
It may, moreover, much increase the sport,
Which is allowed in a virtuous COVRT;
When they whose faults have long suspected been,
Shall draw forth private Censures of their Sin,
And, hear their EMBLEMS, openly, display,
What, others dare not, but in private, say:
Nor will, to Yov, the MORALS be in vain,
Even when to manly Knowledge you attain;
For, though to
Teach,
it will not them become
To be
Remembrancers,
they may presume:
And, that which in their (
hild-hood,
men shall heed,
Will soonest come to mind, in time of need.
Incourag'd by these
Hopes,
I thought it meet
To lay this humble
Present
at your feet.
Accept it, now
; and, please to favor
me,
When I grow
old,
and, You a
Man
shall be.
To your Highness most humbly devoted, GEO: WITHER.
TO THE MOST HIGH-BORNE and hopeful Prince JAMES, Duke of YORKE, &c.
Sweet PRINCE,
YOur hand I kiss; and, thus my
Lines
address
For,
MADAME, (
as his
PROXY)
it is fit,
That,
YOv
both
Read,
and
answer
for him, yet.
To
YOv
for
HIM,
I therefore tender, here,
To welcome-in the
New-beginning Yeare,
This harmless
PLAY-GAME;
that, it may have place,
When somewhat
riper Daies,
shall Make his
GRACE,
Affect such
Objects;
which, to look upon
May pleasure yield him, e're this
Yeare
be gone.
'It is not the least
Discretion,
in great
COVRTS,
To know what
Recreations,
and what
Sports
Become young
PRINCES;
or, to find out those,
Which may, with harmless pleasantness, dispose
Their Minds to
VERTVE:
neither in their
Cradles,
Should this be heeded less, than in their
Sadles:
Because, when first to
know,
we do begin,
A small
Occasion,
lets much
Evil
in.
Among those things, which both
Instruct
and
please;
But few, (for
Children)
are surpassing these
:
For, they, to look on
Pictures,
much desire:
And, not to
Look alone,
but, to inquire
What things those are, that represented be,
In every
MAP,
or
EMBLEM,
which they see.
And, that which they shall
view,
or shall be
told,
(
By means of any
Figure
they behold
)
Experience
breeds; assisteth
Memory:
Or, helps to form a
Witty Fantasie:
And, if those
Forms
to good Instruction tend,
Oft steads them, also, till their lives have end.
Then, since even all of us, much Good receive
By Uertuous
PRINCES;
And should, therefore, strive
To add some
helps,
whereby they might acquire
That
Excellence,
which we in them desire.
I (
being able, to present his
GRACE,
With nothing but a
Rattle,
or a
Glass,
Or some such
Cradle-play-game)
bring, today,
This
BOOKE,
to be as useful as it may
:
And,
how,
and
when,
it will most
useful
grow,
Without my
Teaching,
YOU can fully show.
For, what is of your
Ablenesse
believed,
Through all these famous
Islands,
hath received,
A large applause; in
that,
from out of those
Which
ablest
were, both
King
and
State
have those
Your
Faith
and
Wisdom,
to be TREASVRESSE
Of their chief
Jewels;
and the GOVERNESSE
Of our prime Hopes. And, now Iibi have weighed,
Me thinks, there needs no more, by me, he said,
But, (having prayed your HONOV
•
to receive
This PRESENT for the DVKE)
to take my leave;
And
Versifie
to
him,
some other day,
When
He
can understand me, what I say.
Till then, let it please your Honor sometimes to remember Him, that
I am his Graces daily and humble Orator, GEO: WITHER.
We best shall quiet clamorous
Thronges,
When, we ourselves, can rule our
Tongues.
[illustration]
NEQVEO COMPES CERE MVLTOS
ILLVSTR. I. Book. 2
W
Hen I observe the Melanchollie
Owls,
Considering with what patience, they sustain
The many clamours, of the greater
Fowls
;
And, how the little
Chirpers,
they disdain:
When I remember, how, their Injuries
They sleight, (who, causeless give them an offense)
Vouchsafing, scarce to cast aside their eyes
To look upon that foolish Insolence.
Me thinks, by their
Example,
I am taught
To sleight the slanders of Injurious
Tongues
;
To set the scoffs of
Censurers,
at naught,
And, with a brave
neglect,
to bear out
Wrongs.
He, doubtless, whom the
Psalmist,
long ago,
Unto a lonely
Desert-Owl
compared,
Did practice thus; And, when I can do so,
I, shall for all affronts, become prepared.
And, (though, this Doctrine, Flesh and blood gain-say)
Yet, sure, to stop the malice of
Despight,
There is no better, (nay, no other) way:
Since,
Rage
by Opposition gathers
Might.
Good
God!
vouchsafe, sufficient grace and strength,
That (though I have not yet, such
Patience
got
)
I may attain this happy gift, at length
;
And, find the cause, that, yet, I have it not.
Though me, my
Neighbors,
and my
Foes
revile
;
Make me of all their words, a
Patient-bearer:
When ere I
suffer,
let me be, the while,
As is the silent
Lamb
before the
Shearer.
So; though my
speakings,
cannot quiet any,
My
Patience
may restrain the Tongues of many.
When we by
Hunger, Wisdom
gain,
Our
Guts,
are wiser then our
Brain.
[illustration]
INGENII LARGITOR VENTER.
ILLVSTR. II. Book. 2
T
He
Crowe,
when deep within a close-mouthed-
Pot.
She water finds, her thirstiness to slake;
(And, knoweth not where else it might be got)
Her
Belly,
teacheth her, this course to take:
She flies, and fetcheth many
Pebbles
thither,
Then, down into the
Vessel,
lets them
drop
;
Until, so many stones are brought together,
As may advance the water to the top.
From whence, we might this
observation
heed;
That,
Hunger, Thirst,
and those
necessities,
(Which from the
Bellies
craving, do proceed)
May make a
Fool,
grow provident and wise.
And, though (in sport) we say, the
brains
of some,
Not in their
Heads,
but in their
Gutts,
do lie;
Yet, that, by wants, Men wiser should become,
Dissenteth not from true
Philosophy:
For, no man labors with much
Willingnesse,
To compass, what he naught at all desires;
Nor seeketh so, his longing to possess,
As, when some urgent need, the same requires.
Nay, though he might, a
willingness,
retain,
Yet, as the
Belly,
which is ever full,
Breeds fumes, that cause a
sottish-witles-brain
;
So,
plenteous Fortunes,
make the
Spirits
dull.
All,
borne to Riches,
have not
all-times,
wit
To keep, (much less, to better) their degree:
But, men to nothing borne, oft, passage get,
(Through many wants) renowned, and rich to be:
Yea,
Poverty
and
Hunger,
did produce,
The best
Inventions,
and, of chiefest use.
Though
Music
be of some abhorred,
She,
is the
Handmaid
of the
Lord.
[illustration]
QVI ME ALIT ME EXTINGVIT.
ILLVSTR. III. Book. 2
T
O
Music,
and the Muses, many bear
Much hatred; and, to whatsoever ends
Their
Soul-delighting-Raptures
tuned are,
Such peevish dispositions, it offends.
Some others, in a
Moral way,
affect
Their pleasing
Straines
(or, for a sensual use)
But, in
God's Worship,
they the same suspect;
(Or, tax it rather) as a great abuse.
The
First
of these, are full of
Melancholy
;
And, Pitty need, or Comfort, more then blame;
And, soon, may fall into some dangerous
folly,
Unless they labor, to prevent the same.
The
Last,
are
giddy-things,
that have befooled
Their Judgments, with
beguiling-Fantasies,
Which (if they be not, by discretion, fchool'd)
Will plunge them into greater
Vanities.
For,
Music,
is the
Handmaid
of the LORD,
And, for his
Worship,
was at first ordained:
Yea, therewithal she fitly doth accord;
And, where
Devotion
thriveth, is retained.
She,
by a nat'rall power, doth help to raise,
The
mind
to God, when joyful Notes are founded:
And,
Passions
fierce Distemperatures, alaies;
When, by grave
Tones,
the
Mellody
is bounded.
It, also may in
Mysticke-sense,
imply
What
Music,
in
our-selves,
ought still to be;
And, that our
jarring-lives
to certify,
We should in
Voice,
in
Hand,
and
Heart,
agree:
And, sing out,
Faiths
new-songs, with full consent,
Unto the
Laws,
ten-stringed
Instrument.
Mark, what
Rewards,
to
Sin,
are due,
And, learn,
upri
••
tnesse
to pursue.
[illustration]
DISCITE IVSTICIAM.
ILLVSTR. IIII. Book. 2
A
Sword unsheathed,
and a
strangling-Snare,
Is figured here; which, in
dumb-shows,
do preach,
Of what the
Malefactor
should beware;
And, they do
threaten too,
as well as
Teach.
For, some there are, (would God, that sum were less)
Whom, neither good
Advise,
nor, wholesome
Law,
Can turn from Pathwaies of
Unrighteousness,
If
Death,
or
Tortures,
keep them not in awe.
These, are not they, whose
Conscience
for the sake
Of
Goodness
only,
Godliness,
pursues;
But, these are they, who never scruple make
What
Guilt,
but, what great
punishment
ensues.
For such as these, this
Emblem
was prepared:
And, for their sakes, in places eminent,
Are all our
Gallow-trees,
and
Gibbets,
reared;
That, by the sight of them, they might repent.
Let, therefore, those who feel their hearts inclined
To any kind of
Death-deserving-Crime,
(When they behold this
Emblem
) change their mind,
Lest, they (too late) repent, another time.
And, let not those our Counsel, now, contemn,
Who, doom
poor Thieves
to death; yet, guilty be
Of more, then most of those whom they Condemne:
But, let them Learn their peril to foresee,
For, though a little while, they may have hope
To seem upright, (when they are nothing less)
And, scape the
Sword,
the
Gallows,
and the
Rope,
There is a
Judge,
who sees their wickedness;
And, when grim
Death,
shall summon them, from hence,
They will be fully plagu'd for their offense.
That
Kingdom
will established be,
Wherein the
People
well agree.
[illustration]
CONSENSV POPVLI REGNV̄ SVBSISTIT.
ILLVSTR. V. Book. 2
A
Crowned Scepter,
here is fixed upright,
Betwixt four
Fowls,
whose postures may declare,
They came from
Coasts,
or
Climats
opposite,
And, that, they diffring in their natures are.
In which, (as in some others, that we find
Amongst these
Emblems
) little care I take
Precisely to unfold our
Authors
mind;
Or, on his meaning,
Comments
here to make.
It is the scope of my Intention, rather
From such perplexed
Inventions
(which have naught,
Of Ancient
Hieroglyphic) sense,
to gather,
Whereby, some useful
Moral
may be taught.
And, from these
Figures,
my Collections be,
That,
Kingdoms,
and the
Royal-dignity,
Are best upheld, where
Subjects
do agree,
To keep upright the state of
Sovereignty.
When, from each Coast and quarter of the Land,
The
Rich,
the
Poor,
the
Swain,
the
Gentleman,
Leads, in all
wants,
and at all
times,
his hand,
To give the best assistance that he can:
Yea, when with
Willing-hearts,
and
Winged-speed,
The men of all Degrees, do duly carry
Their
Aides
to public-works, in time of need,
And, to their
Kings,
be freely tributary:
Then shall the
Kingdom
gain the gloriest height;
Then shall the
Kingly-Title
be renowned;
Then shall the
Royal-Scepter
stand upright,
And, with supremest
Honor,
then, be Crown'd.
But, where this Duty long neglect, they shall;
The
King
will suffer, and, the
Kingdom
fall.
From that, by which I
somewhat
am,
The Cause of my
Destruction
came.
[illustration]
MVSICA SERVA DEI
ILLVSTR. VI. Book. 2
T
He little
Sparkes
which rak'd in
Embers
lie,
Are kindly kindled by a gentle
blast:
And,
brands
in which the fire begins to die
Revive by blowing; and, flame out at last.
The self same
wind,
becoming over strong,
Quite bloweth out again that very flame;
Or, else, consumes away (ere it be long)
That wasting substance, which maintained the same.
Thus fares it, in a Thousand other things,
As soon as they the
golden Mean
exceed;
And, that, which keeping
Measure,
profit brings,
May, (by
excess
) our loss, and ruin, breed.
Preferments
(well and moderately sought)
Have helped those men, new
Virtues
to acquire,
Who, being to superior places brought,
Left all their
goodness,
as they climbed higher.
A little
wealth,
may make us better able
To labor in our Callings: Yet, I see
That they, who being poor, were charitable,
Becomming rich, hard-hearted grow to be.
Love,
when they entertain it with discretion,
More worthy, and more happy, maketh men;
But, when their
Love
is overgrown with
Passion,
It overthrows their happiness, agen.
Yea, this our
Flesh,
(in which we do appear
To have that
being,
which we now enjoy)
If we should overmuch the same endear,
Would our
Well-being,
totally destroy.
For, that which gives our
Pleasures
nourishment,
Is oft the poison of our best
Content.
By
Guiltines, Death
entered in,
And,
Mischiefe
still pursueth
Sin.
[illustration]
SEQVITVR SVA POENA NOCENTEM
ILLVSTR. VII. Book. 2
I
Xions
wheel, and he himself thereon
Is figured, and (by way of
Emblem
) here,
Set forth, for
Guilty men
to look upon;
That, they, their wicked Courses might forbear.
To gain a lawless favor he desired,
And, in his wicked hopes beguiled was:
For, when to clasp with
Juno,
he aspired,
Instead of her, a
Clowd,
he did embrace.
He, likewise, did incur a dreadful
Doome,
(Which well befitted his presumptuous Crime)
A terror, and, a warning, to become,
For wicked men, through
〈◊〉
succeeding time.
As did his longings, and his after
Paine,
So, theirs affecteth, nor effecteth ought,
But, that, which proveth either false or vain;
And, their false
Pleasures,
are as dearly, bought:
Yea, that, whereon they build their f
••
est
Hope,
May, bring them (in conclusion of the
〈…〉
)
To clime the
Gallows,
and to stretch a
Rope
;
Or, send them thither, where far worse they speed:
Even thither, where, the
never-standing-Wheel
Of
everlasting-Tortures,
turneth round,
And, racks the
Conscience,
till the soul doth feel
All Paines, that are in
Sense,
and
Reason
found.
For, neither doth black Night, more swiftly follow,
Declining
Day-light:
Nor, with Nimbler Motion
Can
waves,
each other, down their Channell follow,
From high-raised
Mountains,
to the bigg-womb'd
Ocean,
Then,
Justice
will, when she doth once begin,
To prosecute, an
Vnrepented-Sin.
When we have greatest
Griefes
and
Feares,
Then,
Consolation
sweet'st appears.
[illustration]
POST TENTATIONEM CONSOLATIO.
ILLVSTR. VIII. Book. 2
W
Hen, all the year, our fields are fresh and green,
And, while sweet
Flowers,
and
Sunshine,
every day,
(As oft, as need requireth) come between
The Heavens and earth; they heedles pass away.
The fullness, and continuance, of a blessing,
Doth make us to be senseless of the good:
And, if it sometime fly not our possessing,
The sweetness of it, is not understood.
Had we no
Winter, Summer
would be thought
Not half so pleasing: And, if
Tempests
were not,
Such Comforts could not by a
Calme,
be brought:
For, things, save by their
Oppos
•••
appear not.
Both
health,
and
wealth,
is tastles unto some;
And, so is
ease,
and every other
pleasure,
Till
poor,
or
sick,
or
grieved,
they become:
And, then, they relish these, in ampler measure.
God,
therefore (full as
kind,
as he is
wise
)
So tempreth all the
Favors
he will do us,
That, we, his
Bounties,
may the better prize;
And, make his
Chastisements
less bitter to us.
One while, a scorching
Indignation
burns
The Flowers and Blosomes of our HOPES, away;
Which into
Scarsitie,
our
Plentie
turns,
And, changeth
vnmowne-Grass
to
parched Hay
;
Anon, his fruitful
showers,
and pleasing
dew,
Commixt with cheerful
Rayes,
he sendeth down;
And then the Barren-earth her cropp renews,
Which with rich Harvests, Hills, and Valleys Crown:
For, as to relish
Ioyes,
he sorrow sends,
So, Comfort on
Temptation,
still, attends.
To brawl for
Gaine,
the
Cock
doth sleight;
But, for his
Females,
he will fight.
[illustration]
PRO GALLINIS
ILLVSTR. IX. Book. 2
S
Ome, are so
quarrellous,
that they will draw,
And
Brawle,
and
Fight,
for every toy they see;
Grow furious, for the wagging of a straw;
And, (otherwile) for less then that may be.
Some, are more staid, a little, and will bear,
Apparent wrongs (which to their face you do;)
But, when they
Lye,
they cannot brook to hear
That any should be bold to tell them so.
Another sort, I know, that
blows
will take.
Put up the
Lye,
and give men leave to say
What words they please; till spoil they seek to make
Of their estates; And, then, they will kill and slay.
But, of all
Hacksters,
far the fiercest are
Our
Cockrills of the game,
(Sir
Cupid's
knights)
Who, (on their foolish
Coxcombes
) often wear
The Scarres they get in their
Venerean-fights.
Take heed of these; for, you may pacify
The
first,
by time: The
second,
will be pleased
If you submit, or else your words deny;
The
third,
by satisfaction, are appealed:
But, he that for his
Female,
takes offense,
Through Iealousy, or madness, rageth so;
That, he accepteth of no recompense,
Till he hath wrought his
Rivals
overthrow.
Such Fury, shun; and, shun their Vulgar mind,
Who for base trash despitefully contend;
But, (when a just occasion, thou shalt find)
Thy Virtuous
Mistress,
lawfully defend.
For, he, that in such cases turns his face,
Is held a
Capon,
of a Dunghill Race.
If
Safely,
thou desire to go,
Be nor too
swift,
nor
overslow.
[illustration]
TVTIVS VT POSSIT FIGI.
ILLVSTR. X. Book. 2
O
Vr
Elders,
when their meaning was to show
A
native-speediness
(in Emblem wise)
The picture of a
Dolphin-Fish
they drew;
Which, through the waters, with great swiftness, flies.
An
Anchor,
they did figure, to declare
Hope, stayednesse,
or a
grave-deliberation:
And therefore when those two, united are,
It giveth us a twofold Intimation.
For, as the
Dolphin
putteth us in mind,
That in the Courses, which we have to make,
We should not be, to
slothfulness
inclined;
But, swift to follow what we undertake:
So, by an
Anchor
added thereunto,
Inform'd we are, that, to maintain our
speed,
Hope,
must be join'd therewith (in all we do)
If we will undiscouraged proceed.
It showeth (also) that, our
speediness,
Must have some
staydnesse
; lest, when we suppose
To prosecute our aims with good success,
We may, by
Rashness,
good endeavors lose.
They work, with most security, that know
The
Times,
and best
Occasions
of
delay
;
When, likewise, to be neither
swift,
nor
slow
;
And, when to practice all the
speed,
they may.
For, whether calm, or stormy-passages,
(Through this life's
Ocean
) shall their
Bark
attend;
This
double Virtue,
will procure their ease:
And, them, in all necessities, befriend.
By
Speedinesse,
our works are timely wrought;
By
Staydnesse,
they, to pass are, safely, brought.
They that in
Hope,
and
Silence,
live,
The best
Contentment,
may achieve.
[illustration]
IN SILENTIO ET SPE.
ILLVSTR. XI. Book. 2
I
F thou desire to cherish true
Content,
And in a troublous time that course to take,
Which may be likely mischieves to prevent,
Some use, of this our
Hieroglyphic,
make.
The
Friars Habit,
seemeth to import,
That, thou (as ancient
Monks
and
Friars
did)
Shouldst live remote, from places of resort,
And, in
retyrednesse,
lie closely hid.
The
clasped-Book,
doth warn thee, to retain
Thy
thoughts
within the compass of thy breast;
And, in a quiet
silence
to remain,
Until, thy mind may safely be expressed.
That
Anchor,
doth inform thee, that thou must
Walk on in
Hope
; and, in thy Pilgrimage,
Bear up (without
despairing
or
distrust
)
Those wrongs, and sufferings, which attend thine
Age.
For, whensoere
Oppression
groweth rise,
Obscurenesse,
is more safe than
Eminence
;
He, that then keeps his
Tongue,
may keep his
Life,
Till Times will better favor
Innocence.
Truth
spoken where
untruth
is more approved,
Will but enrage the malice of thy foes;
And, otherwhile, a wicked man is moved
To cease from wrong, if no man him oppose.
Let this our
Emblem,
therefore, counsel thee,
Thy life in safe
Retyrednesse,
to spend:
Let, in thy breast, thy thoughts reserved be,
Till thou art laid, where none can thee offend.
And, whilst most others, give their
Fancie scope,
Enjoy thyself, in
Silence,
and in
Hope.
Let none despair of their Estate,
For,
Prudence,
greater is, than
Fate.
[illustration]
FATO PRVDENTIA MAIOR.
ILLVSTR. XII. Book. 2
B
Ee
merry
man, and let no causeless fear
Of
Constellation,
fatal
Destinie,
Or of those false
Decrees,
that published are
By foolish brains, thy
Conscience
terrify.
To thee, these
Figures
better Doctrines teach,
Than those blind
Stoics,
who necessitate
Contingent things
; and, arrogantly teach
(For doubtless truths) their dreams of changeless
Fate.
Though true it be, that those things which pertain,
As
Ground-works,
to
God's
glory, and our bliss,
Are fixed, for aye, unchanged to remain;
All, is not such, that thereon built is.
God, gives men power, to build on his
Foundation
;
And, if their
works
be thereunto agreeing,
No
Power-created,
brings that Variation,
Which can disturb, the
Workmans
happy being.
Nor, of those
workings,
which required are,
Is any made unpossible, until
Mans heart begins that
Counsel
to prefer,
Which is derived from a
crooked-will.
The
Stars,
and many other things, incline
Our nat'rall
Constitutions,
divers ways;
But, in the Soul,
God
placed a
Power-divine,
Which, all those
Inclinations,
overswayes.
Yea,
God,
that
Prudence,
hath infused, by
Grace,
Which, till
Self-will,
and
Lust,
betrays a man,
Will keep him firmly, in that happy place,
From whence, no
Constellation
move him can.
And, this is that, whereof I notice take,
From this great
Star,
enclosed by a
Snake.
Their
Friendship
firm will ever bide,
Whose hands unto the
Cross
are tide.
[illustration]
CONIVNCTIS VOTIS
ILLVSTR. XIII. Book. 2
W
Hen first I knew the world, (and was untaught
By tryde experience, what true
Friendship
meant)
That I had many
faithful friends,
I thought;
And, of their Love, was wondrous confident.
For, few so young in years, and mean in fortune,
Of their
Familiars,
had such troops, as I,
Who did their daily fellowship importune;
Or, seem so pleased in their company.
In all their friendly meetings, I was one;
And, of the
Quorum,
in their honest game:
By day or night, I seldom sat alone;
And, welcome seemed, wheresoere I came.
But, where are now those multitudes of
Friends?
Alas! they on a sudden flasht away.
Their love begun, but, for some sensual ends,
Which failing them, it would no longer stay.
If I to vain expenses, would have moved them,
They, nor their
pains,
nor
purses,
would have spared;
But, in a real need, if I had proved them,
Small shows of kindness, had been then declared.
Of thrice three thousands, two, perhaps, or three,
Are left me now, which (yet) as
Friends
I prize;
But, none of them, of that great number be,
With whom I had my youthful Iollities.
If, therefore, thou desire a
Friend,
on Earth,
Let one
pure-faith
betwixt you be begot,
And, seek him not, in
vanities,
or
mirth,
But, let
Afflictions
tie your
true-love-knot:
For, they who to the
Cross,
are firmly tide,
Will fast, and everlasting
Friends,
abide.
A
Candle
that affords no
light,
What profits it, by Day, or Night?
[illustration]
CVI BONO.
ILLVSTR. XIIII. Book. 2
T
Here be of those in every
Common-weal,
Whom to this
Emblem
we resemble may;
The
Name
of none I purpose to reveal,
But, their
Condition,
here, I will display.
Some, both by gifts of
Nature,
and of
Grace,
Are so prepared, that, they might be fit
To stand as
Lights,
in profitable place;
Yet, loose their
Talent,
by neglecting it.
Some, to the
common Grace,
and
nat'rall parts,
(By help of
Nurture,
and good
Discipline
)
Have added an accomplishment of
Arts,
By which, their
Light
may much the brighter shine.
Some others, have to this, acquired more:
For, to maintain their
Lamp,
in giving light,
Of
Wax,
and
Oil,
and
Fatness,
they have store,
Which over-flows unto them, day and night.
And, even as
Lamps,
or
Candles,
on a Table,
(Or, fixed on golden
Candlesticks,
on high)
To light
Assemblies,
Great and Honorable,
They, oft, have (also) place of
Dignity.
By means of which, their
Splendor
might become
His praise, who those high favors did bequeath:
They might increase the
Light
of
Christendom,
And, make them see, who sit in shades of
Death.
But, many of them, like those
Candles
be,
That stand unlighted in a
Branch
of gold:
For, by their help we nothing more can see,
Than we in grossest darkness, may behold.
If such there be, (as there be such, I fear)
The question is,
For what good use they are.
The
Sacrifice,
God loveth best,
Are
Broken-hearts,
for
Sin,
oppressed.
[illustration]
SACRIFICIVM DEO COR CONTRIBVLATIM.
ILLVSTR. XV. Book. 2
N
O Age, hath had a people, to profess
Religion,
with a show of holiness,
Beyond these times; nor, did men
sacrifice,
According to their foolish fantasies,
More oft than at this present. One, bestows
On
pious-works,
the hundredth part, of those
Ill-gotten goods, which from the poor he seized,
And, thinks his
God,
in that, is highly pleased.
Another, of her dues, the
Church
bereaves:
And, yet, himself a holy man conceives,
(Yea, and right bountiful) if he can spare
From those his thefts, the tenth, or twentieth share,
To some new
Lecture
; or, a
Chaplain
keep,
To please
Himself,
or, preach his
Wife
asleep.
Some others, think they bring sincere
Oblations,
When, fired with zeal, they roar out
Imprecations
Against all those, whom wicked they repute:
And, when to
God,
they tender any suit,
They dream to merit what they would obtain,
By
praying-long,
with Repetitions vain.
With many other such like
Sacrifices
Men come
to God:
but, he such
gifts
despises
For, neither
gifts,
nor
works,
nor
anything
(Which we can either
do,
or
say,
or
bring,
)
Accepted is of
God
; until he find
A
Spirit-humbled,
and a
troubled-mind.
A
contrite Heart,
is that, and, that alone,
Which
God
with love, and pity, looks upon.
Such he affects; therefore (
Oh Lord
) to thee;
Such, let my
Heart,
and, such, my
Spirit
be.
A
King,
that prudently
Commands,
Becomes the glory of his
Lands.
[illustration]
REGNI CORONA REX
ILLVSTR. XVI. Book. 2
T
He
Royal-Scepter,
Kingly power, implies;
The
Crown-Imperial,
GLORIE, signifies:
And, by
these
join'd in one, we understand,
A
King,
that is an honor to his
Land.
A
Kingdom,
is not always eminent,
By having Confines of a large
extent
;
For,
Poverty,
and
Barbarousnesse,
are found
Even in some large
Dominions,
to abound:
Nor, is it
Wealth,
which gets a
glorious-Name
;
For, then, those
Lands
would spread the widest
Fame,
From whence we fetch the
Gold
and
Silver-ore
;
And, where we gather
Pearls
upon the shore:
Nor, have those
Countries
highest exaltations,
Which breed the strongest, and the Warlikst
Nations
;
For, proud of their own pour, they sometimes grow,
And quarrel, till
themselves
they overthrow.
Nor, do the chiefest
glories,
of a
Land,
In many
Cities,
or much
People,
stand:
For, then, those
Kingdoms,
most renowned were,
In which
Vnchristian Kings,
and,
Tyrants
are.
It is the
King
by whom a
Realm's
renown,
Is either built up, or overthrown.
By
Solomon,
more famed was
Judah
made,
Then, by the Multitude of men it had:
Great
Alexander,
glorified
Greece,
Throughout the World, which, else had been a piece
Perhaps obscure; And,
Caesar
added more
To
Rome,
then all her greatness did before.
Grant,
Lord,
these
Isles,
forever may be blessed,
With what, in this our
Emblem
is expressed.
By
Study,
and by
Watchfulness,
The Gem of
Knowledge,
we possess.
[illustration]
STVDIO ET VIGILANTIA.
ILLVSTR. XVII. Book. 2
I
Think you would be wise; for, most men seem
To make of
Knowledge
very great esteem.
If such be your desires, this
Emblem
view;
And, mark how well the
Figures,
counsel you.
We by the Bird of
Athens,
do express,
That painful, and that useful
watchfulness,
Which ought to be enjoined, unto them,
Who seek a place, in
Wisdomes
Academ.
For, as an
Owl
mewes up her self by
Day,
And watcheth in the
Night,
to get her prey;
Even so, good
Students,
neither must be such,
As
daily
gad; or
nightly
sleep too much.
That
open-book,
on which the
Owl
is perch'd,
Affords a
Moral,
worthy to be searched:
For, it informs, and, darkly doth advise,
Your
Watchings
be not after Vanities;
(Or, like their
Wakings,
who turn days to nights,
In following their unlawful appetites)
And, that, in keeping Home, you do not spend
Your hours in sloth, or, to some fruitless end.
But, rather in good
Studies
; and, in that,
By which, true
Knowledge,
is arrived at.
For, if your
Studies,
and your
Wakings,
be
To this intent; you shall that
Path-way
see
To
Wisdom,
and to
Honor,
which was found,
Of them, whose
Knowledge
hath been most renownd.
But, if your
Watchings,
and
Retyrednesse,
Be for your
Lust,
or, out of
Sottishnesse;
You are not, what th'
Athenian-Owl
implies,
But, what our
English-Owlet
signifies.
When
Mars,
and
Pallas,
do agree,
Great works, by them, effected be.
[illustration]
ARTE ET MARTE
ILLVSTR. XVIII. Book. 2
I
T prospers ever best, in all Estates,
When
Mars
and
Pallas
are continual Mates.
And, those affairs but seldom lucky be,
In which, these needful
Powers,
do not agree.
That
Common-wealth,
in which, good
Arts
are found
Without a
Guard,
will soon receive a wound:
And,
Soldiers,
where
good order
bears no sway,
Will, very quickly, rout themselves away.
Moreover▪ in our private Actions too,
There must be both a
Knowledge,
how to do
The
work
proposed; and
strength
to finish it;
Or, we shall profit little by our
Wit.
Discretion
takes effect, where
Vigour
fails;
Where
Cunning
speeds not,
outward-force
prevails;
And, otherwhile, the prize pertains to neither,
Till they have join'd their
Virtues
both together.
Consider this; and, as occasions are,
To both of these your due respects declare.
Delight not so in
Arts,
to purchase harms
By Negligence, or Ignorance of
Arms:
If
Martial-Discipline
thou shalt affect;
Yet, do not
honest-Policy,
neglect.
Improve thy
Mind,
as much as e're thou may;
But fool thou not thy
Bodies
gifts away.
The
Virtues
both of
Body,
and of
Mind,
Are, still, to be regarded in their kind.
And, we should neither of the two disgrace;
Nor, either of them, raise above his place:
For, when these two we value as we ought,
Great works, by their
joint power,
to pass are brought.
They, after
suffering,
shall be
crowned,
In whom, a
Constant-faith,
is found.
[illustration]
CONSTANTE FIDVCIA
ILLVSTR. XIX. Book. 2
M
Ark well this
Emblem
; and, observe you thence
The nature of true
Christian-confidence.
Her
Foot
is fixed on a
squared-Stone,
Which, whether side soe're you turn it on,
Stands fast; and, is that
Corner-stone,
which props,
And firmly knits the structure of our
Hopes.
She,
always, bears a
Cross
; to signify,
That, there was never any
Constancy
Without her
Trials:
and, that, her perfection,
Shall never be attained, without
Affliction.
A
Cup
she hath, moreover, in her hand;
And, by that
Figure,
thou mayst understand,
That, she hath draughts of
Comfort,
always near her,
(At every brunt) to strengthen, and to cheare her.
And, loe,
her
head is
crowned
; that, we may see
How great, her
Glories,
and
Rewards,
will be.
Here by, this
Virtue's
nature may be known:
Now, practice, how to make the same thine own.
Discourag'd be not, though thou art pursued
With many wrongs, which cannot be eschew'd;
Nor yield thou to
Despairing,
though thou hast
A
Cross
(which threatens death) to be embracit;
Or, though thou be compel'd to swallow up,
The very dregs, of
Sorrowes
bitter
Cup:
For, whensoever griefs, or torments, pain thee,
Thou hast the same
Foundation
to sustain thee:
The self same
Cap
of
Comfort,
is prepared
To give thee strength, when
fainting fits
are feared:
And, when thy
time of trial,
is expired,
Thou shalt obtain the
Crown,
thou hast desired.
Love,
a
Musician
is professed,
And, of all
Music,
is the best.
[illustration]
AMOR DOCET MVSICAM
ILLVSTR. XX. Book. 2
I
F to his thoughts my
Comments
have assented,
By whom the following
Emblem
was
invented,
I will hereby teach you (
Ladies
) to discover
A true-bred
Cupid,
from a feigned
Lover
;
And, show (if you have Wooers) which be they,
That worth'est are to bear your
Hearts
away.
As is the
Boy,
which, here, you pictured see,
Let them be
young,
or let them, rather, be
Of
suiting-years
(which is instead of
youth
)
And, woo you in the
nakedness,
of
Truth
;
Not in the common and disguised
Clothes,
Of
Mimick-gestures, Complements,
and
Oaths.
Let them be
winged
with a swift
Desire
;
And, not with
slow-affections,
that will tire.
But, look to this, as to the principal,
That,
Love
do make them truly
Musicall:
For,
Love's
a good
Musician
; and, will show
How, every faithful
Lover
may be so.
Each
word
he speaks, will presently appear
To be melodious
Raptures
in your ear:
Each
gesture
of his body, when he moves,
Will seem to
play,
or
sing,
a
Song of Loves:
The very
looks,
and
motions
of his eyes,
Will touch your
Heart-strings,
with sweet
Harmonies
;
And, if the
Name
of him, be but expressed,
T'will cause a thousand
quaverings
in your breast.
Nay, even those
Discords,
which occasioned are,
Will make your
Music,
much the sweeter, far.
And, such a moving
Diapason
strike,
As none but
Love,
can ever play the like.
Thy
seeming-Lover,
false will be,
And, love thy
Money,
more than
Thee.
[illustration]
NON TE SED NVMMOS
ILLVSTR. XXI. Book. 2
W
Hat may the reason be, so many wed,
And miss the blessings of a
joyful-Bed,
But those ungodly, and improper ends,
For which, this Age most
Marriages
intends?
Some, love
plumpe-flesh
; and, those as kind will be
To any gamesome
Wanton,
as to thee.
Some, dote on
Honors
; and, all such will prize
Thy
Person,
merely, for thy
Dignities.
Some, fancy
Pleasures
; and, such
Flirts
as they,
With every
Hobby-horse,
will run away.
Some (like this
Couple
in our
Emblem,
here)
Wooe hard for
Wealth
; and, very kind appear,
Till they have won their prize: but, then they show
On what their best
Affections
they bestow.
This
Wealth,
is that sweet
Beauty,
which prefers
So many to their
Executioners.
This, is that rare
Perfection,
for whose sake,
The
Pol
•
tician,
doth his
Marriage,
make.
Yea, most of those whom you shall married find,
Were cousned, (or did cozen) in this kind;
And, for some
by respects,
they came together,
Much more, than for the sakes, of one another.
If this concerns thee, now, in any sense;
For thy instruction, take this warning hence:
If thou hast erred already, then, lament
Thy passed crime, and, bear thy punishment.
If thou, as yet, but tempted art to err;
Then, let this
Emblem
be thy
Counselor
:
For, I have said my mind; which, if thou slight,
Go, and repent it, on thy
wedding night.
Give
Credit;
but, first, well beware,
Before thou
trust
them,
who they are.
[illustration]
FIDE SED CVI VIDE
ILLVSTR. XXII. Book. 2
I
Rather would (because it seemeth just)
Deceived be, than causelessly distrust:
Yet,
whom
I credited; and, then, how
far
;
Be
Cautions,
which I thought worth heeding were:
And, had not this been taught me long agone,
I had been poorer, if not quite undone.
That, others to such wariness, may come,
This
Emblem,
here, hath filled up a room;
And, though a vulgar
Figure,
it may seem,
The
Moral,
of it, meriteth esteem.
That
Seeing-Palme,
(endowed with an
Eye,
And handling of a
Heart
) may signify
What wary
Watchfulness,
observe we must,
Before we venter on a weighty
Trust:
And, that, to keep our
kindness
from abuse,
There is of
double-diligence,
an use.
Men's hearts, are grown so false, that most are loath
To trust each others
Words,
or
Bands,
or
Oath:
For, though we had in every part an
Eye,
We could not search out all
Hypocrisy
;
Nor, by our utmost providence, perceive
How many ways, are open to deceive.
Now, then (although perhaps thou art so wise,
To know already, what I would advise)
Yet may this
Emblem,
or this
Motto,
be
Instead of some
Remembrancer,
to thee.
So, take it therefore; And, be sure, if either
This
Warning,
or thy
Wit,
(or both together)
Can, still, secure thee from
deceitful-hearts
;
Thy
luck
exceedeth all thy other parts.
He, that on
Earthly-things,
doth trust,
Dependeth, upon
Smoke,
and
Dust.
[illustration]
HVMANA FVMVS
ILLVSTR. XXIII. Book. 2
L
Ord!
what a coyle is here! and what a puther,
To save and get? to scratch and scrape together
The Rubbish of the world? and, to acquire
Those vanities, which
Fancie
doth desire?
What
Violence
is used, and what
Cunning?
What nightly
Watchings,
and what daily
Running?
What
sorrows
felt? what
difficulties
entered?
What
losses
hazarded? what
perils
ventred?
And, still, how sottishly, do we persevere
(By all the power, and means we can endeaver)
To wheel ourselves, in a perpetual
Round,
In quest of that, which never will be found?
In
Objects,
here on
Earth,
we seek to find
That perfect sollidnesse, which is confinde,
To things in
Heaven,
though every day we see,
What emptiness, and failings, in them be.
To teach us better; this, our
Emblem,
here,
Assayes to make terrestrial things appear
The same they be, (both to our ears and eyes)
That, we may rightly their Condition prize.
The best, which of earths
best things,
we can say,
Is this; that they are
Grass,
and will be
Hay.
The rest, may be resembled to the
Smoke,
(Which doth but either blind the sight, or choke)
Or else, to that uncleanly
Mushrum-ball,
Which, in some Countries, we a
Puff-soyst
call;
Whose
outside,
is a nasty rotten
skin,
Containing dirt, or smoking-dust,
within.
This is my
mind
; if wrong you think I have done them,
Be
Fools
; and, at your perils, dote upon them.
I bear, about me, all my store;
And, yet, a
King
enjoys not more.
[illustration]
OMNIA MEA MECVM PORTO.
ILLVSTR. XXIIII. Book. 2
T
His
Emblem
is a
Torteise,
whose own shell
Becomes that
house,
where he doth rent-free dwell;
And, in what place soever he resides,
His
Arched-Lodging,
on his back abides.
There is, moreover, found a kind of these,
That live both on the shore, and in the Seas;
For which respects, the
Torteise
represents
That man, who in himself, hath full contents;
And (by the
Virtues
lodging in his mind)
Can all things needful, in all places, find.
To such a
Man,
what ever doth betide;
From him, his
Treasures,
nothing can divide.
If of his
outward-means,
Thieves make a prize;
He, more occasion hath to exercise
His
inward-Riches:
and, they prove a
Wealth,
More useful, and less liable to stealth.
If, any at his harmless person strike;
Himself he straight contracteth,
Torteis-like,
To make the
Shell
of
Suffrance,
his defense;
And, counts it
Life,
to die with
Innocence.
If, he, by hunger, heat, or cold, be pain'd;
If, he, by slaundred, slighted, or disdayn'd;
He, always keeps and carries, that, within him,
Which may, from those things,
ease
and
comfort,
win him.
When, him unclothed, or unhous'd, you see;
His
Resolutions,
clothes and houses be,
That keep him safer; and, far warmer too,
Than
Palaces,
and princely
Robes,
can do.
God give me
wealth,
that hath so little Cumber
;
And, much good dooit the
World
with all her Lumber.
To
Learning,
J a love should have,
Although one foot were in the
Grave.
[illustration]
TAMEN DISCAM.
ILLVSTR. XXV. Book. 2
H
Ere, we an
Aged-man
described have,
That hath
one foot,
already, in the
Grave:
And, if you mark it (though the
Sun
decline,
And horned
Cynthia
doth begin to shine)
With
open book,
and, with attentive eyes,
Himself, to compass
Knowledge,
he applies:
And, though that
Evening,
end his last of days,
Yet, I will study, more to learn,
he says.
From this, we gather, that, while time doth last,
The time of
learning,
never will be past;
And, that, each hour, till we our
life
lay down,
Still, something, touching
life,
is to be known.
When he was old, wise
Cato
learned Greek:
But, we have
aged-folks,
that are to seek
Of that, which they have much more cause to learn;
Yet, no such mind in them, we shall discern.
For, that, which they should study in their
prime,
Is, oft, deferred, till their
latter time:
And, then,
old-age,
unfit for
learning,
makes them,
Or, else, that common
dullness
overtakes them,
Which m
•
kes ashamed, that it should be thought,
They need, like
little children,
to be taught.
And, so, out of this world, they do return
As wise, as in that week, when they were borne.
God, grant me grace, to spend my life-time so,
That I my duty still may seek to
know;
And, that, I never, may so far proceed,
To think, that I, more
Knowledge,
do not need:
But, in
Experience,
may continue growing,
Till I am filled with fruits of pious-knowing.
Good-fortune,
will by those abide,
In whom,
True-virtue
doth reside.
[illustration]
VIRTVTI FORTVNA COMES.
ILLVSTR. XXVI. Book. 2
M
Ark, how the
Cornucopias,
here, apply
Their
Plenties,
to the
Rod
of
Mercury
;
And (if it seem not needless) learn, to know
This
Hieroglyphic's
meaning, ere you go.
The
Sages
old, by this
Mercurian-wand
(
Caducaeus
named) were wont to understand
Art, Wisdom, Virtue,
and what else we find,
Reputed for endowments of the
Mind.
The
Cornucopias,
well-known
Emblems,
are,
By which, great
wealth,
and
plenties,
figured were;
And (if you join together, what they spell)
It will, to every Understanding, tell,
That▪ where
Internal-Graces
may be found,
Eternal-blessings,
ever, will abound.
For, this is
truth,
and (though some thoughts in you
Suggest, that this is, often times, untrue)
This, ever is the
truth
; and, they have got
Few right-formed
Virtues,
who believe it not.
I will confess, true
Virtue
hath not ever
All
Common-plenties,
for which most endeavor;
Nor have the
Perfect'st-Virtues,
those high places,
Which
Knowledge, Arts
(and, such as have the faces
Of outward
beauty
) many times, attain;
For, these are things, which (often) those men gain,
That are more
flesh,
then
spirit
; and, have need
Of
carnal-helps,
till higher they proceed.
But, they, of whom I speak, are flown so high,
As, not to want those
Toyes,
for which we cry:
And, I had shown you somewhat of their store,
But, that, this
Page,
had room to write no more.
The
Gospel,
thankfully embrace;
For,
God,
vouchsafed us, this
Grace.
[illustration]
DEVS NOBIS HAEC OTIA FECIT.
ILLVSTR. XXVII. Book. 2
T
His moderne
Emblem,
is a mute expressing
Of
God's
great Mercies, in a
Moderne-blessing
;
And, gives me, now, just cause to sing his praise,
For granting me, my being, in these days.
The much-desired
Messages
of Heaven,
For which, our
Fathers
would their lives have given,
And (in
Groves, Caves,
and
Mountains,
once a year)
Were glad, with hazard of their goods, to hear;
Or, in less bloody times, at their own homes,
To hear, in private, and obscured rooms.
Lo; those, those
Ioyfull-tidings,
we do live
Divulg'd, in every
Village,
to perceive;
And, that, the sounds of
Gladness,
echo may,
Through all our goodly
Temples,
every day.
This was
(Oh God)
thy doing; unto thee,
Ascrib'd, forever, let all Prayses be.
Prolong this
Mercy,
and, vouchsafe the
fruit,
May to thy
Labor,
on this
Vine-yard,
suit:
Lest, for our fruitlesnesse, thy
Light of grace,
Thou, from our
Golden candlestick,
displace.
We do, me thinks, already,
Lord,
begin
To
wantonize,
and let that
loathing
in,
Which makes thy
Manna
tastlesse; And, I fear,
That, of those
Christians,
who, more often
hear,
Then practice, what
they know,
we have too many:
And, I suspect my
self,
as much as any.
Oh! mend
me
so, that, by amending
me,
Amends in
others,
may increased be:
And, let all
Graces,
which thou hast bestowed,
Return thee
honor,
from whom, first, they flowed.
The
Bees,
will in an
Helmet
breed;
And,
Peace,
doth after
War,
succeed.
[illustration]
EX BELLO PAX
ILLVSTR. XXVIII. Book. 2
W
Hen you have heeded, by your
Eyes
of
sense,
This
Helmet,
hiving of a Swarme of
Bees,
Consider, what may gathered be from thence,
And, what your
Eye
of
Understanding
sees.
That
Helmet,
and, those other
Weapons,
there,
Betoken
War
; the Honey-making,
Flies,
An
Emblem
of a happy
Kingdom,
are,
Injoying
Peace,
by painful Industries:
And, when, all these together are expressed,
As in this
Emblem,
where the
Bees,
do seem
To make their dwelling, in a
Plumed-Crest,
A
Moral
is implied, worth esteem.
For, these infer, mysteriously, to me,
That,
Peace,
and
Art,
and
Thrift,
most firm abides,
In those
Re-publikes,
where,
Arms
cherished be;
And, where, true
Martial-discipline,
resides.
When, of their Stings, the
Bees,
disarmed, become,
They, who, on others Labors, use to prey,
Incourag'd are, with violence, to come,
And, bear their
Honey,
and, their
Wax,
away.
So when a
People,
merely, do affect
To gather Wealth; and (foolishly secure)
Defences necessary, quite neglect;
Their Foes, to spoil their Land, it will allure.
Long
Peace,
brings
War
; and,
War,
brings
Peace,
again:
For, when the smart of
Warfare
seizeth on them,
They cry,
Alarm
; and, then, to fight, are fain,
Until, their
War,
another
Peace,
hath won them;
And, out of their old rusty
Helmets,
then,
New
Bees
do swarm, and, fall to work agen.
The
Heart
of him, that is
upright,
In
Heavenly-knowledge,
takes delight.
[illustration]
COR RECTV̄ INQVIRIT SCIENTIĀ.
ILLVSTR. XXIX. Book. 2
T
His
Emblem,
with some other of the rest,
Are scarce, with seemly
Properties,
expressed,
Yet, since a vulgar, and a mean
Invention
May yield some
Fruit,
and show a good
Intention
;
I will, hence, as well inform your
Intellects,
As if these
Figures
had not those defects.
The
Book,
here shadow'd, may be said, to show
The
Wisdom,
and
Experience,
which we know
By Common means, and, by these
Creatures,
here,
Which to be placed below us, may appear.
The
Winged-heart,
betokens those
Desires,
By which, the
Reasonable-soul,
aspires
Above the
Creature
; and, attempts to clime,
To
Mysteries,
and
Knowledge,
more sublime:
Even to the
Knowledge
of the
Three-in-one,
Implyed by the
Tetragrammaton.
The
Smokings
of this
Heart,
may well declare
Those
Perturbations,
which within us are,
Until, that Heavenly wisdom, we have gained,
Which is not, here, below, to be attained;
And, after which, those
Hearts,
that are
upright,
Enquire with daily study, and delight.
To me,
Oh Lord,
vouchsafe thou, to impart
The gift of such a
Rectifyed-heart.
Grant me the
Knowledge
of Inferior things,
So far, alone, as their Experience, brings
The
Knowledge,
which, I ought to have of thee,
And, of those Dueties, thou requir'st of me:
For, thee,
Oh God,
to
know,
and, thee to
fear,
Of truest
Wisdom,
the Perfections are.
Where,
Labor,
wisely, is employ'd,
Deserved
Glory,
is enjoy'd.
[illustration]
ΕΚ ΠΟΝΟΥ ΚΛΕΟΣ.
ILLVSTR. XXX. Book. 2
D
Oe men suppose, when
God's
free-giving Hand,
Doth by their
Friends,
or, by
Inheritance,
To
Wealth,
or
Titles,
raise them in the Land,
That, those, to
Lasting-glories,
them advance?
Or, can men think, such
Goods,
or
Gifts
of Nature,
As
Nimble-apprehensions, Memory,
An
Able-body,
or, a comely
Feature
(Without improvement) them, shall dignify?
May Sloth, and Idleness, be warrantable,
In us, because our
Fathers
have been rich?
Or, are we, therefore, truly honorable,
Because our
Predecessors,
have been such?
When, nor our
Fortunes,
nor our
natural parts,
In any measure, are improved by us,
Are others bound (as if we had deserts)
With Attributes of
Honor
to bely us?
No, no; the more our
Predecessors
left,
(Yea, and, the more, by
nature,
we enjoy)
We, of the more esteem, shall be bereft;
Because, our
Talents,
we do mis-employ.
True
Glory,
doth on
Labor,
still attend;
But, without
Labor, Glory
we have none.
She,
crowns good
Workmen,
when their Works have end;
And,
Shame,
gives payment, where is nothing done.
Laborious, therefore, be; But, lest the
Spade
(which, here, doth
Labor
mean) thou use in vain,
The
Serpent,
thereunto, be sure thou add;
That is, Let
Prudence
guide thy
taking pain.
For, where, a
wise-endeavor,
shall be found,
A
Wreath
of
Glory,
will inclose it round.
Behold, you may, the
Picture,
here,
Of what, keeps
Man,
and
Child,
in fear.
[illustration]
PVEROS CASTIGO VIROS{QUE}
ILLVSTR. XXXI. Book. 2
T
Hese, are the greatest
Afflictions,
most men have,
Even from their
Nursing-cradle,
to their
Grave:
Yet, both so needful are, I cannot see,
How either of them, may well spared be.
The
Rod
is that, which, most our
Child-hood
fears;
And, seems the greatest
Affliction
that it bears:
That, which to
Man-hood,
is a plague, as common
(And, more unsufferable) is a
Woman.
Yet, blush not
Ladies
; neither frown, I pray,
That, thus of
Women,
I presume to say;
Nor, number me, as yet, among your
foes
;
For, I am more your
friend,
then you suppose:
Nor smile ye
Men,
as if, from hence, ye had
An Argument, that
Woman kind
were bad.
The
Birch,
is blameless (yea, by nature, sweet,
And gentle) till, with stubborn Boys, it meet:
But, then, it smarts. So,
Women,
will be kind,
Until, with froward
Husbands,
they are join'd:
And, then indeed (perhaps) like Birchen boughs,
(Which, else, had been a trimming, to their House)
They, sometimes prove, sharp
whips,
and
Rods,
to them,
That
Wisdom,
and,
Instruction
do contemn.
A
Woman,
was not given for
Correction
;
But, rather for a furtherance to
Perfection:
A precious
Balm of love,
to cure Mans grief;
And, of his Pleasures, to become the chief.
If, therefore, she occasion any smart,
The blame, he merits, wholly, or in part:
For, like sweet
Honey,
she, good
Stomackes,
pleases;
But, pains the
Body,
subject to
Diseases.
Death's
one
long-Sleep;
and,
Life's
no more,
But one
short-Watch,
an hour before.
[illustration]
VITA MORTALIVM VIGILIA.
ILLVSTR. XXXII. Book. 2
W
Hen, on this
Child-like-figure,
thou shalt look,
Which, with his
Light,
his
Houre-glass,
and his
book,
Sits, in a
watching-posture,
formed here;
And, when thou hast perus'd that
Motto,
there,
On which he lays his hand; thyself apply
To what it counselleth; and,
learn to die,
While that
Light
burns, and, that
short-hour
doth last,
Which, for this
Lesson,
thou obtained hast.
And, in this
bus'nesse,
use thou no delays;
For, if the bigger
Motto
truly, says,
There is not left unto thee, one whole
Watch,
Thy necessary labors, to dispatch.
It was no more, when first thy
Life
begun;
And, many
Glasses
of that
Watch
be run:
Which thou observing, shouldst be put in mind,
To husband well, the
space
that is behind.
Endeavor honestly, whilst thou hast
light:
Deferre thou not, thy
Journey,
till the
night
;
Nor, sleep away, in Vanities, the
prime,
And
flower,
of thy most acceptable
time.
So watchful, rather, and, so careful be,
That, whensoere the
Bridegroom
summons thee;
And, when thy
Lord
returns, unlookt for, home;
Thou mayst, a
Partner,
in their joys, become.
And, oh
my God!
so wary, and so wise,
Let me be made; that, this, which I advise
To other men (and really have thought)
May, still, in practice, by myself, be brought:
And, help, and pardon me, when I transgress,
Through human frailty, or, forgetfulness.
What ever
God
did
fore-decree,
Shall, without fail,
fulfilled be.
[illustration]
MANET IMMVTABILE FATVM.
ILLVSTR. XXXIII. Book. 2
M
E thinks, that
Fate,
which
God
weighs forth to all,
I, by the
Figure
of this
Even-Skale,
May partly show; and, let my
Reader,
see
The state, of an
Immutable-decree
;
And, how it differs, from those
Destinies,
Which carnal understandings, do devise.
For, this implies, that everything,
to-come,
Was, by a steady, and, by equal
doom,
Weigh'd out, by
Providence
; and, that, by
Grace,
Each
thing,
each
person,
every
time,
and
place,
Had thereunto, a
pour,
and
portion
given,
So proper to their nature (and, so even
To that just
measure,
which, aright became
The
Workings,
and, the
being,
of the same)
As, best might help the furthering of that
end,
Which,
God's
eternal
wisdom,
doth intend.
And, though, I dare not be so bold, as they,
Who, of
God's
Closer, seem to keep the
Key
;
(And, things, for absolute
Decrees,
declare,
Which, either
false,
or, but
Contingents
are)
Yet, in his
Will-revealed,
my
Reason,
sees
Thus much, of his
Immutable-decrees
:
That, him, a
Doome-eternal,
reprobateth,
Who scorneth
Mercy
; or,
Instruction
hateth,
Without
Repenting:
And, that, whensoever,
A
Sinner,
true
amendment,
shall endeavor;
Bewaile his
Wickedness,
and, call for
grace
;
There shall be, for
Compassion,
time, and place.
And, this, I hold, a branch of that
Decree,
Which, Men may say, shall
never changed be.
My
Fortune,
I had rather bear;
Then come, where greater perils are.
[illustration]
DETERIVS FORMIDO.
ILLVSTR. XXXIV. Book. 2
M
Ark well this
Caged-fowl
; and, thereby, see,
What, thy estate, may, peradventure, be.
She, wants her
freedom
; so, perhaps, dost thou,
Some
freedoms
lack, which, are desired, now;
And, though, thy
Body
be not so confined;
Art straitened, from some liberty of
Mind.
The
Bird in thrall,
the more contented lies,
Because, the
Hawk,
so near her, she espyes;
And, though, the
Cage
were open, more would fear,
To venture out, then to continue there:
So, if thou couldst perceive, what
Birds of prey,
Are hov'ring round about thee, every day,
To seize thy
Soul
(when she abroad shall go,
To take the
Freedom,
she desireth so)
Thou, far more fearful, wouldst of them, become,
Then thou art, now, of what thou flyest from.
Not
Precepts,
but
Experience,
thus hath taught me;
Which, to such resolutions, now have brought me,
That, whatsoever mischiefs others do me,
I make them yield some true Contentments to me;
And, seldom struggle from them, till I see,
That,
smother-fortunes
will securer be.
What spite soere my Foes, to me, can do,
I laugh thereat, within an hour or two:
For, though the World, and I, at first, believe,
My Suffrings, give me cause enough to grieve;
Yet, afterward, I find (the more to glad me)
That, better
Fortunes,
might far worse have made me.
By some young
Devils,
though, I scratched am,
Yet, I am hopeful, I shall scape their
Dam.
The more contrary
Winds
do blow,
The greater
Virtues
praise will grow.
[illustration]
ADVERSIS CLARIVS ARDET.
ILLVSTR. XXXV. Book. 2
O
Bserve the nature of that
Fiery-flame,
Which on the
Mountains
top so brightly shows;
The
Winds
from every quarter, blow the same,
Yea, and to blow it out, their
fury
blows;
But, lo; the more they
storm,
the more it
shineth
;
At every Blast, the
Flame
ascendeth higher;
And, till the
Fuells
want, that rage confineth,
It, will be, still, a great, and glorious
Fire.
Thus fares the man, whom
Virtue,
Beacon-like,
Hath fixed upon the
Hills
of Eminence,
At him, the Tempests of mad
Envy
strike,
And, rage against his Piles of Innocence;
But, still, the more they wrong him, and the more
They seek to keep his worth from being known,
They, daily, make it greater, then before;
And, cause his
Fame,
the farther to be blown.
When, therefore, no self-doting
Arrogance,
But,
Virtues
covered with a modest veil,
Break through
obscurity,
and, thee advance
To place, where
Envy
shall thy worth assail;
Discourage not thyself: but, stand the shockes
Of wrath, and fury. Let them snarl and bite;
Pursue thee, with
Detraction, Slanders, Mockes,
And, all the venom'd Engines of
Despight,
Thou art above their malice; and, the
blaze
Of thy
Caelestiall-fire,
shall shine so clear,
That, their besotted souls, thou shalt amaze;
And, make thy
Splendours,
to their shame, appear.
If this be all, that
Envies
rage can do,
Lord, give me
Virtues,
though I suffer too.
Even as the
Smoke
doth pass away;
So, shall all
Worldly-pomp
decay.
[illustration]
SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI.
ILLVSTR. XXXVI. Book. 2
S
Ome better
Arguments,
then yet I see,
I must perceive; and, better causes, why,
To those gay things, I should addicted be,
To which, the Vulgar their
Affections
tie.
I have considered,
Scepters, Miters, Crowns,
With each appurtenance to them belonging;
My
heart,
hath searched their
Glories,
and
Renownes
;
And, all the pleasant things about them thronging:
My
Soul,
hath truly weighed, and, took the measure,
Of
Riches
(which the most have so desired)
I have distilled the Quintessence of
Pleasure,
And, seen those Objects, that are most admired.
I, likewise feel all
Passions,
and
Affections,
That help to cheat the
Reason,
and persuade
That those poor
Vanities,
have some perfections,
Whereby their Owners, happy might be made.
Yet, when that I have rouz'd my
Understanding,
And cleansed my Heart from some of that Corruption,
Which hinders in me
Reasons
free commanding,
And, shows, things, without veils, or interruption;
Then, they, me thinks, as fruitless do appear,
As
Bubbles
(wherewithal young-children play)
Or, as the
Smoke,
which, in our
Emblem,
here,
Now, makes a show, and, straight, consumes away.
Be pleased,
Oh God,
my value may be such
Of every
Outward-blessing,
here below,
That, I may neither love them overmuch,
Nor underprise the
Gifts,
thou shalt bestow:
But, know the use, of all these fading
Smokes;
And, be refreshed, by that, which others chokes.
Death,
is unable to divide
Their Hearts, whose Hands
True-love
hath tide.
[illustration]
IVSQVE A LA MORT
ILLVSTR. XXXVII. Book. 2
U
Pon an
Altar,
in this
Emblem,
stands
A
Burning-heart
; and, therewithal, you see
Beneath
Deaths-head,
a pair of
Loving-hands,
Which, close, and fast-united, seem to be.
These moderne
Hieroglyphickes
(vulgarly
Thus bundled up together) may afford
Good-meanings, with as much
Propriety,
As best, with common
Judgments,
will accord.
It may imply, that, when both
Hand
and
Heart,
By sympathizing dearness are invited,
To meet each others nat'rall
Counterpart,
And, are by sacred
Ordinance
united:
They then have entered that strict
Obligation,
By which they, firmly, every way are tied;
And, without means (or thought of separation)
Should in that
Union,
till their
Deaths,
abide;
This, therefore, mind thou, whatsoever thou be
(Whose
Marriage-ring,
this
Covenant,
hath sealed)
For, though, thy Faith's infringement, none can see,
Thy secret fault, shall one day, be revealed.
And, thou that art at liberty, take heed,
Lest thou (as over great a number do)
Of thine own person, make a
Privy-deed,
And, afterwards, deny thy doing so.
For, though there be, nor
Church,
nor
Chapel,
nigh thee
(Nor outward witnesses of what is done)
A
Power-invisible
doth always eye thee;
And, thy pretended
Love,
so looks upon,
That, if thou be not, till thy
dying,
true;
Thy
Falsehood,
till thy
dying,
thou shalt rue.
False
Weights,
with
Measures
false eschew,
And, give to every man, their
Due.
[illustration]
SWM CVIQVE TRIBVE
ILLVSTR. XXXVIII. Book. 2
F
Orth of a
Cloud
(with
Scale
and
Rule
) extended
An
Arm
(for this next
Emblem
) doth appear;
Which hath to us in
silent-shows,
commended,
A
Virtue,
that is often wanting, here.
The World, is very studious of
Deceipts
;
And, he is judged wisest, who deceives.
False-measures,
and,
Adulterated-weights,
Of many dues, the needy-man bereaves.
Even
Weights
to fell, and, other
Weights
to buy
(
Two sorts of weights
) in practice are, with some;
And, both of these, they often falsify,
That, they to great, and
sudden-wealth,
may come.
But, Conscience make of raising your estates,
By such a base, and such a wicked way:
For, this Injustice,
God
expressly hates;
And, brings, at last, such
thrivers
to decay.
By
Weight
and
measure, He
on all bestows
The Portions due; That,
Weight
and
Measure,
then,
Which Man to
God,
or to his
Neighbor
owes,
Should, justly, be returned back agen.
Give everyone, in everything his own:
Give
honor,
where an
honor
shall be due;
Where you are
loved,
let your
love
be shown;
And, yield them succors, who have succor'd you.
Give to thy
Children,
breeding and
Corrections
;
Thy
Charities,
even to thy
Foes
extend:
Give to thy
Wife,
the best of thy
Affections
;
To
God,
thy
self,
and, all thou hast, commend:
And, lest thou fail, Remember who hath said,
Such
measure,
as thou givest, shall be repay'd.
He needs not fear, what spite can do,
Whom
Virtue
friends, and
Fortune,
too.
[illustration]
IN VIRTVTE ET FORTVNA.
ILLVSTR. XXXIX. Book. 2
W
Hen, in this
Emblem
here, observe you shall
An
Eaglet,
perched, on a
Winged-ball
Advanced on an
Altar
; and, have ey'd
The
Snakes,
assailing him, on every side:
Me thinks, by that, you straight should apprehend
Their state, whom
Wealth,
and
Virtue,
do befriend.
My Judgment, by that
Altar-stone,
conceives
The sollidnesse, which, true
Religion
gives;
And, that fast-grounded
goodness,
which, we see,
In grave, and sound
Morality,
to be.
The
Flying-ball,
doth, very well, express
All
Outward-blessings,
and, their
fickleness.
Our
Eaglet,
meaneth such
Contemplatives,
As, in this world, do pass away their lives,
By so possessing that which they have got,
As if they cared not, though, they had it not.
The
Snakes,
may well resemble those, among them,
Who, merely out of
envy,
seek to wrong them;
And, all these
Figures
(thus together laid)
Do speak to me, as if these words, they said:
That man, who builds upon the best
foundation,
(
And spreads the widest wings of
Contemplation)
Whilst, in the
flesh,
he bides, will need some props
Of
earthly-fortunes,
to support his
hopes:
And, other-while, those things, may means become,
The stings of
Envy,
to secure him from.
And, hence, I learn; that, such, as will abide,
Against all
Envy,
strongly fortify'd,
Must join, great
Virtues,
and great
Wealth,
together.
God help us, then,
poor-souls,
who scarce have either!
Time,
is a
Fading-flower,
that's found
Within
Eternities
wide
round.
[illustration]
ΑΙΩΝΙΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣ ΚΑΙΡΟΝ.
ILLVSTR. XL. Book. 2
F
Ive
Termes,
there be, which five, I do apply
To all, that
was,
and
is,
and,
shall be done.
The
first,
and
last,
is that ETERNITIE,
Which, neither shall have
End,
nor, was
begun.
BEGINNING, is the
next
; which, is a space
(Or moment rather) scarce imaginary,
Made, when the first
Material,
formed was;
And, then, forbidden, longer time to tarry.
TIME entered, when, BEGINNING had an
Ending,
And, is a Progress, all the works of
Nature,
Within the circuit of it, comprehending,
Even till the
period,
of the
Outward-creature.
END, is the
fourth,
of those five
Termes
I mean;
(As brief, as was
Beginning
) and, ordained,
To set the last of
moments,
to that
Scaene,
Which, on this Worlds wide
Stage,
is entertained.
The
fifth,
we EVERLASTING, fitly, call;
For, though, it once
begun,
yet, shall it never
Admit, of any
future-end,
at all;
But, be extended onward, still, forever.
The knowledge of these
Termes,
and of what
actions,
To each of them belongs, would set an end,
To many Controversies, and Distractions,
Which do so many trouble, and offend.
TIME'S nature, by the
Fading-flower,
appears;
Which, is a
Type,
of Transitory things:
The
Circled-snake,
ETERNITIE declares;
Within whose
Round,
each fading Creature, springs.
Some
Riddles
more, to utter, I intended,
But, lo; a sudden stop, my words have ended.
When great Attempts are undergone,
Join
Strength
and
Wisdom,
both in one.
[illustration]
VIRIBVS IVNGENDA SAPIENTIA.
ILLVSTR. XLI. Book. 2
I
F (
Reader
) thou desirous be to know
What by the
Centaure,
seemeth here intended;
What, also, by the
Snake,
and, by the
Bowe,
Which in his hand, he beareth always bended:
Learn, that this
half-a man,
and
half-a horse,
Is ancient
Hieroglyphic,
teaching thee,
That,
Wisdom
should be join'd with outward
force,
If prosperous, we desire our works to be.
His
Vpper-part,
the shape of
Man,
doth bear,
To teach, that,
Reason
must become our
guide.
The
hinder-parts,
a
Horses
Members are;
To show, that we must, also,
strength
provide:
The
Serpent,
and the
Bowe,
doth signify
The same (or matter to the same effect)
And, by two
Types,
one
Moral
to imply,
Is doubled a
fore-warning
of
neglect.
When
Knowledge
wanteth
Power,
despised we grow,
And,
know
but how to aggravate our pain:
Great
strength,
will work it own sad overthrow,
Unless, it guided be, with
Wisedomes
rein.
Therefore,
Oh God,
vouchsafe thou so to marry
The gifts of
Soul
and
Body,
both, in me,
That, I may still have all things necessary,
To work, as I commanded am, by thee.
And, let me not possess them,
Lord, alone,
But, also,
know
their use; and, so well
know
it,
That, I may do each
duty
to be done
;
And, with upright Intentions, always do it.
If this be more, then, yet, obtain I may,
My
will
accept thou, for the
deed,
I pray.
The
Ground
brings forth all needful, things;
But, from the
Sun,
this virtue springs.
[illustration]
SOLVM A SOLE
ILLVSTR. XLII. Book. 2
W
E do acknowledge (as this
Emblem
shows)
That
Fruits
and
Flowres,
and many
pleasant-things,
From out the
Ground,
in every season grows;
And, that unto their
being,
help it brings.
Yet, of it self, the
Ground,
we know is dull,
And, but a
Willing-patient,
whereupon
The
Sun,
with Beams, and Virtues wonderful,
Prepareth, and effecteth, what is done.
We, likewise, do acknowledge, that our
eyes
Indowed are with faculties of
Seeing,
And, with some other nat'rall
properties,
Which are as much our own, as is our
Being.
However, till the
Sun
imparts his light,
We find, that we in
darkness
do remain,
Obscured in an everlasting night;
And, boast our
Seeing-faculties,
in vain.
So, we, by nature, have some nat'rall powers:
But,
Grace,
must those abilities of ours
First move; and, guide them, still, in moving, thus,
To work with
God,
when
God
shall work on us:
For,
God
so works, that, no man he procures
Against his
nature,
ought to choose, or shun:
But, by his
holy-Spirit,
him allures;
And, with sweet mildness, proveth everyone.
The
Sun
is faultless of it, when the birth
Of some bad
Field,
is nothing else but
Weeds:
For, by the self-same
Sun shine,
fruitful Earth
Bears pleasant Crops, and plentifully breeds.
Thus, from our
selves,
our
Vices
have increase,
Our
Virtues,
from the
Sun
of
Righteousness.
No
passage
can divert the
Course,
Of
Pegasus,
the
Muses
Horse.
[illustration]
RECTO CVRSV
ILLVSTR. XLIII. Book. 2
T
his is the
Poets-horse
; a
Palfray,
SIRS,
(That may be ridden, without rod or spurs)
Abroad, more famous then
Bucephalus,
Though, not so known, as
Banks
his horse, with us;
Or some of those
fleet-horses,
which of late,
Have run their
Masters,
out of their estate.
For, those, and
Hobby-horses,
best befit
The note, and practice of their moderne wit,
Who, what this
Horse
might mean, no knowledge had,
Until, a
Tavern-sign,
they saw it made.
Yet, this old
Emblem
(worthy veneration)
Doth figure out, that
winged-contemplation,
On which the
Learned
mount their best
Invention,
And, climb the
Hills
of highest Apprehension.
This is the nimble
Gennet,
which doth carry,
Their
Fancie,
thorough
Worlds
imaginary;
And, by
Ideas
feigned, shows them there,
The nature of those
Truths,
that real are.
By means of
this,
our
Souls
do come to know
A thousand secrets, in the
Deeps
below;
Things, here on
Earth,
and, things above the
Skyes,
On which, we never fixed, yet, our eyes.
No thorny, miry, steep, nor craggy place,
Can interrupt this
Courser,
in his race:
For, that, which others, in their passage troubles,
Augments his courage, and his vigor doubles.
Thus, fares the
Mind,
infused with brave
desires;
It flies through Darkness, Dangers, Flouds, and Fires:
And, in despite of what her aim resisteth:
Pursues her
hopes,
and takes the
way
she listeth.
The
Husbandman,
doth sow the Seeds;
And, then, on
Hope,
till
Harvest,
feeds.
[illustration]
SPES ALIT AGRICOLAS
ILLVSTR. XLIV. Book. 2
T
He painful
Husbandman,
with sweaty brows,
Consumes in labor many a weary day:
To break the stubborn earth, he
digs
and
ploughes,
And, then, the Corn, he scatters on the clay:
When that is done, he
harrowes
in the Seeds,
And, by a well-cleansed Furrow, lays it dry:
He, frees it from the
Wormes,
the
Moles,
the
Weeds
;
He, on the
Fences,
also hath an eye.
And, though he see the chilling Winter, bring
Snowes, Flouds,
and
Frosts,
his Labors to annoy;
Though
blasting-winds
do nip them in the
Spring,
And,
Summers
Meldewes, threaten to destroy:
Yea, though not only
Days,
but
Weekes,
they are
(Nay, many
Weekes,
and, many
Moneths
beside)
In which he must with pain, prolong his care,
Yet, constant in his hopes he doth abide.
For this respect, HOPE'S
Emblem,
here, you see
Attends the
Plough,
that men beholding it,
May be instructed, or else minded be,
What Hopes, continuing
Labors,
will befit.
Though, long thou toiled hast, and, long attended
About such workings as are necessary;
And, oftentimes, ere fully they are ended,
Shalt find thy pains in danger to miscarry:
Yet, be not out of
hope,
nor quite dejected:
For, buried Seeds will sprout when
Winter's
gone;
Vnlikelier things are many times effected;
And,
God
brings help, when men their best have done.
Yea, they that in
Good-works
their life employ;
Although,
they sow in tears, shall reap in joy.
Things, to their best perfection come,
Not all at once▪ but,
some
and
some
[illustration]
POCO A POCO.
ILLVSTR. XLV. Book. 2
W
Hen, thou shalt visit, in the Moneth of
May,
A costly
Garden,
in her best array;
And, view the well-grown Trees, the well-trimmed Bowers,
The Beds of Herbs, the knots of pleasant flowers,
With all the deckings, and the fine devices,
Perteyning to those earthly
Paradises,
Thou canst not well suppose, one day, or two,
Did finish all, which had been, there, to do.
Nor dost thou, when young Plants, or new-sown Lands,
Do thirst for needful Watrings, from thy hands,
By
Flood-gates,
let whole Ponds amongst them come;
But, them besprinklest, rather,
some
and
some
;
Lest else, thou mar the
Flowres,
or chill the
Seed,
Or drown the
Saplings,
which did moisture need.
Let this experiment, which, to thy thought,
May by this
Emblem,
now perhaps, be brought,
Perswade thee to consider, that, no actions,
Can come, but by
degrees,
to their perfections;
And, teach thee, to allot, for everything,
That
leisurely-proceeding,
which may bring
The ripeness, and fullness, thou expectest:
And, though thy
Hopes,
but slowly thou effectest,
Discourage not thyself; since, oft they prove
Most prosperous actions, which at leisure move.
By many
drops,
is made a mighty
shower
;
And many
minutes
finish up an
hour:
By
little,
and by
little,
we possess
Assurance of the greatest
Happiness.
And, oft, by too much
haste,
and too much
cost,
Great
Wealth,
g
•
eat
Honors,
and, great
Hopes,
are
lost.
Affliction,
doth to many add
More
value,
then, before, they had.
[illustration]
TRIBVLATIO DITAT
ILLVSTR. XLVI. Book. 2
T
Hough I am somewhat soberer today,
I have been (I confess) as mad as they,
Who think those men, that large Possessions have,
Gay Clothes, fine Furnitures, and Houses brave,
Are those (nay more, that they alone are those)
On whom, the style of
Rich,
we should impose.
But, having, by experience, understood
His words, who said,
his troubles did him good,
I, now perceive, the
Wordly-rich
are poor,
Unless of
Sorrowes,
also, they have store.
Till from the
Straw,
the
Flaile,
the
Corn
doth beat;
Until the
Chaff,
be purged from the
Wheat,
Yea, till the
Mill,
the
Graines
in pieces tear,
The richness of the
Flowre,
will scarce appear.
So, till men's persons great
Afflictions
touch
(If
worth
be found) their
worth
is not so much,
Because, like
Wheat,
in
Straw,
they have not, yet,
That value, which in
threshing,
they may get.
For, till the bruising
Flailes
of GOD'S
Corrections,
Have threshed out of us our vain
Affections
;
Till those
Corruptions,
which do misbecome us,
Are by thy
Sacred-spirit,
winnowed from us;
Until, from us, the
straw
of
Wordly-treasures
;
Till all the dusty
Chaff
of empty
Pleasures
;
Yea, till his
Flaile,
upon us, he doth lay,
To thresh the husk of this our
Flesh
away;
And, leave the
Soul
uncover'd; nay, yet more,
Till
God
shall make, our very
Spirit
poor;
We shall not up to highest
Wealth
aspire:
But, then we shall; and,
that is my desire.
Though
Fortune,
hath a powerful
Name,
Yet,
Virtue
overcomes the same.
[illustration]
VICTRIX FORTVNAE SAPIENTIA.
ILLVSTR. XLVII. Book. 2
A
Snake,
(which was by wise
Antiquity
Much used, the type of
Prudencie
to be)
Hemmes in a
Winged-ball,
which doth imply,
That
Fickle-fortune,
from which, none are free.
Above this
Ball,
the
Snake
advanceth too,
The
Laurell,
and the
Sword
; which,
Emblems
are,
Whereby our
Author
maketh much ado,
A
Conquest
over
Fortune,
to declare.
And, well enough this purpose it befits,
If (
Reader
) any one of those thou be,
Whose
Fortunes
must be mended by their
Wits
;
And, it affords instructions fit for thee:
For, hence, thou mayst collect, that, no estate
Can, by
Misfortunes
means, become so bad,
But,
Prudence
(who is
Mistress
over
Fate
)
May rule it so, that, good it might be made.
Though
Fortunes
outlawes, on thy
Riches
prey,
By
Wisd
•
me,
there is means, of getting more;
And, every rub that's placed in thy way,
Shall make thee walk more safely, then before.
Nor
Poverty,
nor
Paynes,
nor
Spightfulnesse,
Nor other,
Mischiefes,
that
Mischance
can do thee,
Shall bring thee any sorrow or distress,
Which will not be, at last, advantage to thee.
Lord,
give me such a
Prudence:
for my
Fortune
Puts many foils, and cruel thrusts upon me:
Thy help, long since, it made me to importune;
And, thou didst grant it, or she had undone me.
Still, deign me thy assistance,
Lord,
and, than,
Let all
Misfortunes,
do the worst they can.
A
Life,
with
good-repute,
Jle have,
Or, win an honorable
Grave.
[illustration]
AVT MORS AVT VITA DECORA
ILLVSTR. XLVIII. Book. 2
I
N this our
Emblem,
you shall find expressed
A
Man,
incountring with a
Salvage-beast
;
And, he resolveth (as his
Motto
says)
To
live
with
honor
; or, to
die
with
praise.
I like the
Resolution,
and the
Deed,
In which, this
Figure
teacheth to proceed.
For, us, me thinks, it counselleth, to do,
An act, which all men are obliged unto.
That ugly
Bore
(wherewith the man in strife
Here seems to be) doth mean a
Swinish-life,
And, all those beastly
Vices,
that assay
To root becoming
Virtues
quite away;
Those
Vices,
which not only mar our features,
But, also, ruinate our manly natures.
The harmful fury, of this raging
Bore,
Oppose courageously, lest more and more,
It get within you; and, at last, appear
More prevalent, then your defences are.
It is a large-grown
Pig,
of that wild
Swine,
Which, every day, attempts to undermine
Our
Safeties
Fort: Twas he, which long ago,
Did seek the
Holy-Vineyards
overthrow:
And, if we charge him not with all our power,
The
Sire,
or
he,
will enter and devour.
But, what's our strength,
O Lord!
or, what are we
In such a
Combat,
without aid from thee?
Oh, come to help us, therefore, in this Fight
;
And, let us be enabled in thy might:
So, we shall both in
life-time,
Conquests have
;
And, be victorious, also, in the
Grave.
She
shall increase in glory, still,
Until her
light,
the world, doth fill.
[illustration]
DONEC TOTV̄ IMPLEAT ORBĒ.
ILLVSTR. XLIX. Book. 2
W
Hat in this
Emblem,
that man's meanings were,
Who made it first, I neither know nor care;
For, whatsoever, he purposed, or thought,
To serve my
purpose,
now it shall be taught;
Who, many times, before this Taske is ended,
Must pick out
Moralls,
where was none intended.
This knot of
Moons
(or
Crescents
) crowned thus,
Illustrate may a Mystery to us,
Of pious use (and, peradventure, such,
As f
•
om old
Hieroglyphics,
er
•
es not much)
Old-times,
upon the
Moon,
three
names
b
•
stow'd;
Because, three diverse ways, her self she showed:
And, in the
sacred-books,
it may be shown,
That
holy-Church,
was figured by the
Moon.
Then, these three
Moons in one,
may intimate
The
holy-Churches
threefold blest estate.
The
Moon,
still, biding in our
Hemisphaere,
May typisie the
Church,
consisting, here,
Of m
•
n, yet living: when she shows her light
Among
••
here,
in portions of the night
;
The
Church
it figures, as consist she may
Of
them,
whose
bodies
in the
Grave
do stay;
And, whose blest
spirits,
are ascended thither,
Where
Soul
and
Body
meet, at last, together.
〈◊〉
, when the
Moon
is hidden from our eyes,
The
Church-triumphant,
then, she signifies;
Which, is a
Cres
•
ent
yet, that, some, and some,
Must grow, till all her puts together come:
And, then, this
Moon
shall beams, at full, display;
LORD,
hasten this great
Coronation-day.
True
Virtue
is a
Coat of Maile,
'Gainst which, no
Weapons
can prevail.
[illustration]
VIRTVS LORICA FIDELIS
ILLVSTR. L. Book. 2
L
Ord,
what a coyle men keep, and, with what ear
Their
Pistolls,
and, their
Swords
do they prepare,
To be in readiness? and, how they load
Themselves with Irons, when they ride abroad?
How wise and wary too, can they become,
To fortify their persons up at home,
With locks, and bars? and such
domestic-Arms,
As may secure their bodies, there, from harms?
However, when all's done, we see, their foes
Break in, sometimes, and work their overthrows.
For, though (about themselves, with Cable-quoiles,
They could inclose a hundred thousand miles)
The
gunshot
of a slanderous
tongue,
may smite,
Their
Fame
quite through it, to the very
White.
Yea, more (though, there, from others, they were free)
They wounded, by themselves, to death might be,
Except their
Innocence,
more guards them, than
The strength of twenty royal
Armies,
can.
If, therefore, thou thy
Spoylers,
wilt beguile,
Thou must be armed, like this
Crocodile
;
Even with such nat'rall
Armor
(every day)
As no man can bestow, or take away:
For, spiteful
Malice,
at one time or other,
Will pierce all borrowed
Armours,
put together.
Without,
let
Patience
durifie thy Skin;
Let
Innocence,
line thy heart
within
;
Let constant
Fortitude,
unite them so,
That, they may break the force of every blow:
And, when thou thus art
armed,
if ill thou speed;
Let me sustain the
Mischiefe,
in thy steed.
Finis Libri secundi.
THE SECOND LOTTERIE.
1
S
Ome friends, and foes, of thine, there be,
That make a
wondering-stock
of thee;
Some other over-much, of late,
To thy dishonor boldly prate,
And, peradventure, to thy face,
E're long, they'll do thee some disgrace:
Thine
Emblem,
therefore, doth advise
That thou shouldest make them no replies;
And shows that
silent-patience,
than
2
By such as know you, it is thought,
That, you are better
fed
then
taught:
And, that, it might augment your
wit,
If you were sometimes
hunger-bit.
That
Emblem,
which by
Lot
you drew,
To this effect doth somewhat show:
But 'twill go hard, when you are fain,
3
Perhaps you may be one of those,
Whom, from the
Church,
an
Organ
blows;
Or, peradventure, one of them,
Who doth all melody contemn:
Or, one, whose
life
is yet untaught,
How into
tune
it should be brought.
If so, your
Lot,
to you hath sent
4
God bless thee, whosoere thou art,
And, give thee still an honest heart:
For, by the fortune of thy
Lot,
That
Sword,
and
Halter,
thou hast got,
Which threatens
death,
with much disgrace;
Or, promises the Hang-man's's place.
But, be not grieved; for, now and than,
The
Gallows
makes an honest man;
And, some, who scape an outward curse,
M
5
Thou wouldest be loath, we should suspect,
Thou didst not well thy
King
affect;
Or, that, thou shouldest be so ingrate,
To sleight the welfare of the
State
:
Ye
•
, thou, perchance, art one of those,
Who
discord
through the
Kingdom
sows.
W
•
know not, but if such thou be,
6
In you, a natural desire
Beginnes to blow
Affection's
fire;
But, by
discretion,
guide the
blast,
Lest, it consume you, at the last;
Or, by the fury of the same,
Blow out some necessary
Flame.
Yea, that, which doth your
Profit
breed,
7
Be careful, what you go about;
For, by this
Lot,
there may be doubt,
That you, some wickedness intend,
Which will undo you, in the end.
If you have done the
deed,
repent:
If purposed ill, the same prevent.
Else, though in
jest,
this
Counsel
came,
8
Thou art afflicted; or, ere long
Shalt sing some lamentable Song:
And, of those troubles, take some share,
Which, thou art very loath to bear.
But, be not overmuch dismayd,
Nor pine, what ere on thee be laid,
For, comfort shall thy joy restore,
9
If this thy
Chance
hath done thee right,
Thou art, or hast been apt to fight;
And, wilt upon occasion small,
Begin, sometimes, a needless
brawl.
To show thee, therefore, thy defect;
Or, that thy folly may be checkit,
And, fit thy mind for better things,
10
What thing soere thou undertak'st,
Thou seldom good conclusion makest;
For, still, when thou hast ought to do,
Thou art too
hasty,
or too
slow
;
And, from that equal temper stray'st,
By which, thy work effect thou mayst.
To mend this fault thou counsel'd art,
11
Thou hast in public lived long,
And, over freely used thy
tongue
;
But, if thy safety thou desire,
Be
silent,
and, thyself
retire.
And, if thou wilt not be undone,
Poss
•
sse thy
joys,
and
hopes,
alone:
For, they, that will from harms be free,
12
Thy
Fortune,
thou dost long to hear,
And, what thy
Constellations
are:
But, why shouldest thou desire to know,
What things, the
Planets
do foreshow;
Seek, rather.
Wisdom
to procure,
And, how, all
Fortunes
to endure:
So, thou shalt gain a blest estate,
13
Thou, seemest to have great store of
friends,
But, they affect thee, for th
•
ir ends.
There i
•
, in those, but little trust,
Who love, for
profit, mirth,
or
lust.
L
•
arne, therefore, when, thou mayst be sure,
Thy
Friend's
affection will endure;
And, that this
Knowledge
may be got,
14
It is conceived, that means thou hast,
O
•
, mightest have had good means, at least,
T
•
b
•
ing those matters to eff
•
ct,
Watch thou dost carelessly neglect;
And, good for many mightest have done,
Who yet, hast pleasure'd few, or none.
If this b
•
true, thy
Lot
peruse,
15
Religious thou wouldest fain be deemed,
And, such, to many thou hast seemed:
But, to this matter more there goes,
Then zealous looks, and formal shows.
Look, therefore, that thy heart be true,
What e're thou s
•
eme in outward view.
And, if
God's
favor thou wouldest have,
16
That
Emblem,
which this
Lot
will bring,
Concernes the honor of a
King:
How, therefore, thee it may conc
•
rne,
By thy discretion seek to learn.
Perhaps, the
Royal pour
hath seemed
To thee, not so to be esteemed,
As well it merits, to be prized.
17
Both learned, and wise, thou wouldest become,
(Else thou hast much dece
•
ved some)
But, if
•
hy
hopes
thou wilt effect,
Thou mu
••
not likely
means
neglect;
And, what the likeliest
means
may be,
Thine
Emblem
hath advised thee:
For, by a
Fowl,
that's blockish thought,
18
If, to
preferment
thou wilt rise,
Thou must not
Arts,
nor
Arms,
despise;
Nor so in
one
of these delight,
That, thou the
other,
wholly sleight.
Nor, to thy
Body
be inclined,
So much, as to neglect thy
Mind.
This, by thine
Emblem,
thou mayst learn;
19
Thy
fortunes
have appeared bad;
For, many
suff
•
rings
thou hast had:
And
trials
too, as yet made known
To no man's knowledge, but thine own.
But, let nor loss, nor fame, nor smart,
From constant hopes remove thy heart:
And, as thine
Emblem
doth foreshow,
W
20
Your
Lot
informeth how to know
Where, best your
Love
you may bestow:
And, by the same it may appear
What
Music
most affects your ear.
Denye it not; for (by your leave)
We by your looks, your heart perceive.
And, this perhaps you will think upon
21
This
Lot
may make us all suspect,
That some wrong
object
you affect;
And, that, where dearness you pretend,
It is not for the noblest end.
What mischief from such falsehood flows,
Your
Emblem
very truly shows;
And, may more happy make your
Fate,
22
To trust on others, thou art apt;
And, hast already been intrapt;
Or, mayest ere long be much deceived
By some, whom thou hast well believed.
Be heedful, therefore, of thy
Lot
;
And, let it never be forgot:
So, though some hazard thou mayst run,
23
It seems thou take'st too great a care
For things, that vain, and fading are;
Or else, dost overp
•
ise them so,
As if all bliss from them did flowe.
That, therefore, thou mayst view their worth,
In
Hieroglyphic
shadow'd forth,
Thy
Lot
befriends thee: mark the same,
24
Though some, should thee, for one, mistake,
Whose
wealth
is all upon his back,
If what thou hast, be all thine own,
God, hath enough on thee bestowne.
A
Princes
ransom, we may b
•
are,
In
Jewels,
which most p
•
ecieu are;
And, yet, to many men may seem,
To carry nothing worth esteem.
Therefore, though small thy sub
••
ance be,
25
•
y this your
Emblem,
we discern,
That, you are yet of age to learn;
And, that, when el
•
er you shall grow,
There, will be more for you to
know:
Presume n
•
t, therefore of your
wit,
But, strive that you may better it.
For, of your age, we many view,
26
By thy complaints, it hath appeared,
Thou thinkest thy
Virtues
want reward;
And, that, if they their merit had,
Thou
rich
and
nobler
shouldest be made.
To drive thee from that partial t
••
ught,
Thou, by an
Emblem,
shalt be taught,
That, where true
Virtue
may be found,
27
By this thy
Lot,
thou dost appear
To be of those, who love to hear
The
Preacher's
voice; or, else of them,
That undervalue, or contemn
Those daily
showers
of wholesome
words,
Which
God,
in these our times, affords.
Now, which soere of these thou be,
28
Thou deal'st, when thee thy
foe
offends,
As if, you never should be
friends.
In
peace,
thou so secure dost grow,
As if, thou couldest not have a
foe.
How, therefore,
Peace
and
War
pursues
Each other, this thine
Emblem
shows,
That, thou mayst learn, in every tide,
29
What e're thou art in outward show,
Thy Heart is ever very true,
And, to those
Knowledges
aspires,
Which every prudent
Soul
desires:
Yet, be not proud that thou hast got
This testimony, by thy
Lot.
But, view thine
Emblem,
and endeaver
30
If
Glory,
thou desire to get,
Thy
Wits,
thou must on working set;
And,
labor
unto
Prudence
add,
Before true
Honor
will be had:
For, what thy
Friends,
or
Parents
brought,
To make thee
famous,
profits naught;
But, rather will procure thy
shame,
M
31
The time hath been, that of the
Rod,
Thou wert more fearful, then of
God
;
But, now unless thou prudent grow,
More cause thou hast to fear a
shrowe
;
For, from the
Rod,
now thou art free,
A
Woman,
shall thy torment be.
At her, yet do not thou repine,
32
It seems, thy
Time
thou dost
misspend:
To warn thee, therefore of thine
end
;
To show, how short thy
Life
will be;
And, with what speed it flies from thee;
This
Lot
was drawn: and, may advize,
That, thou thy time shouldst better prize.
Which, if accordingly thou do,
33
It may be, thou art one of those,
Who, dost not all aright suppose,
of
God's Decrees
; or, of the state
Of an inevitable
Fate.
That, therefore, so thou mayest believe,
(And, of these Mysteries conceive)
As thou art bound; this
Lot
befell.
34
Thou, at thy
Fortune,
hast repin'd,
And, seemest imprisond in thy mind,
Because thou art not straight releast
From those things which have thee oppressed.
To thee, a
Lot
is therefore sent,
To qualify thy
discontent,
By showing, that thy present
Fate
35
Thy
Virtues
and thy
Worth
are such,
That, many do envy thee much;
And, they that hate thee, take delight
To do thee mischief and despite.
But, heart assume, and follow on
The
course
that thou hast well begun;
For, all their spite shall do no more,
36
In outward pomp, thy pleasures are;
Thy hope of bliss is placed there;
And, thou this
folly
wilt not leave,
Till, all
content,
it shall bereave,
Unless, thou timely come to see
How vain, all earthly
Glories
be.
An
Emblem,
therefore, thou hast gained,
37
It may be feared, that thou hast
In public, or in private, past
Some
promise,
or else made some
vow,
That's broke, or else endanger'd, now.
If so; this
Lot
is come, in time,
To mend, or to prevent this crime;
And, show what should by them be done,
38
Thou art reproved of
deceit,
In faulty
Measures,
and in
Weight
;
And, overbackward hast been known,
In giving everyone his own.
Thine
Emblem,
therefore, counsels thee,
That, thou more just, hereafter be.
For, that, which is by
falsehood
got,
39
So highly, thou dost
Virtue
prize,
That, thou dost
Fortunes
help despise,
As if, where
Virtues
present are,
H
•
r favors always needless were:
But, sometimes there's enough to do,
For
Fortune,
and for
Virtue
too,
The power of envious tongues to charm,
And, keep an
Innocent
from harm.
Therefore, make both of
these,
thy friends;
40
Thou mayst be one of those, perchance,
Who
Sch
•
sme,
and
Heresies
advance,
Because they
Times
and
Termes
mistake;
And,
diff'rence
know not how to make
'Twixt that, which
temp'rall
doth appear,
And, those things which
eternal
are.
Thou, by thy
Lot,
art therefore warned,
41
Great works to do, thou hast a
mind
;
But,
power
thereto thou canst not find.
Sometime, thy
power
is not unfit;
But, then thou failest in thy
wit.
Such
Vndertakings,
therefore, choose
(If thou wilt not thy time abuse)
A
•
to thy
pow'
•
s,
and
wits
agree;
42
When any
Blessing
thou hast gained,
Thou mind'st not whence it was obtained;
But, bear'st thyself, as if the same
By thine own
power,
or
merit,
came:
That, therefore, thou
mayst
better heed
From whence, all
Graces
do proceed,
Thou, hast an
Emblem,
by this
Lot,
43
By this thy
Lot,
it should appear,
The
Muses
thy acquaintance are;
Or, that thou art (at least) of those,
Who, of their
Steed
ambitious grows.
If thou hast
wit,
his
Reynes
to guide,
Upon his back, mount up and ride;
But, if thou find thyself to weak,
44
In many things, the worse thou art,
By thy despayring, fainting heart;
And, oft, thy labor, and thy cost,
For want of
hopefulnesse,
is lost.
This indiscretion to prevent,
Thou, therefore, by thy
Lot,
art sent,
The
Plough-man's
hopefulnesse to see:
45
As soon as e're thy
Seeds
are sown,
Thou
fruits
expectest, fully grown.
And, if they ripe not in a day,
Thou, foolest all thy hopes away:
That wiser, therefore, thou mayst grow,
Thy
Lot,
an
Emblem
doth bestow,
To teach, that
works
both fair and great,
46
Thou hadst, or hast, or thou shalt have
Much trouble, ere thou fill thy
Grave
;
And, mayest, when thou expectest rest,
With pain, or sorrows, be oppressed.
But, be content, and wail not much:
For,
Poverty
shall make thee
rich.
The pain will soon be overpast,
47
Thy
Fortune,
be it good or bad,
May, by thy
wit,
be better made;
Yea, whatsoever
mischances
fall,
By
prudence,
thou mayest help them all.
That, hopeful, therefore, thou mayst bide,
What change soever, shall betide,
Thou, by thy
Lot,
informed art,
M
48
A man at
Arms,
thou wouldst be thought,
And, hast the Crown of
Honor
sought;
But, thou hast much mistook the
ways,
Which tend to well-deserved
praise.
How,
Honor,
therefore, may be got,
Thou art informed by thy
Lot;
And, with what
Foes,
and, for what
end,
49
Perhaps, thou mayst be one of those,
Who doth
God's
holy Church oppose;
For, over many in these days,
Disturbe her
Peace,
and sleight her
Praise:
That her
esteem,
therefore may be
Increased, or preserved, by thee,
Thine
Emblem,
now, to thee, will show,
50
Thou
safety
lov'st, and wouldst have
Arms,
Thy person to secure from harms:
But, most of those thou hast prepared,
Are but a weak uncertain
Guard,
And, if thou take not greater heed,
May fail thy trust, in time of need.
Thine
Emblem,
therefore, hath expressed,
51
Of
Planetary-Calculations,
Of
Superstitious-Observations,
Of
Lots,
and
Dreams,
and
Accidents,
Which have but casual events,
Thou art so fond; and, unto such,
Thou dost adhere, and trust so much,
That, it succeedeth very well,
No
Emblem,
now, to thee befell:
Lest, these, which only
Counsels
be,
Might seem firm
Destinies
to thee.
52
He that by drawing, here, his
Lot,
Some caveat or advice hath got,
Did, peradventure, need alone
That
Caution,
which he lighted on:
But, unto thee, so needful are
All
Warnings,
and, all
Counsels
here,
That,
Fortune
will not
one
bestow,
Lest, thou mayest think thou needest no moe.
53
You, may be glad, you drew not that,
Which, in your thought, you guessed at;
For, so it points out that
condition,
Whereof you give a great suspicion,
That, had it such an
Emblem
named,
As fits you right, you had been shamed.
Since, then, your fault is unreveal'd,
Amend, and keep it still concealed.
54
The
Muses
Oracle is dumb,
Because to tempt them you are come;
For, in your
heart
you much despise,
To follow that, which they advise:
Their admonitions, you do jeer,
And, scorn to help your
Wisdom,
here.
The
Muses,
therefore, leave you, still,
To be as foolish, as you will.
5
It would, perhaps, have made thee proud,
If, now, thy
Lot
had been allowed
To let an
Emblem
shadow forth
What is conceived of thy
worth.
Or, if thy
Virtues
were desery'd,
Perchance, thou wouldst be more envy'd
Then praised, when they are expressed;
A
Blanke
for thee, was therefore best.
6
No
Emblem,
to this
Lot,
replies;
Mind, therefore, well (I thee advise)
What from the
Preacher's
voice thou hear'st,
When in the
Church,
thou next appear'st:
Yea, there endeavor thou, to seek
Thy
Lot
of
Counsel,
every week.
For, at all seasons, there will be
Such
Prophecies,
concerning thee,
That, if of those, thou takest heed,
These
Emblems,
thou shalt never need.
FINIS.
A COLLECTION OF EMBLEMES, ANCIENT AND MODERNE: Quickened With METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS, both Moral and Divine: And disposed into LOTTERIES.
That Jnstruction, and Good Counsel, may be furthered by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation.
By GEORGE WITHER.
The third Book.
[illustration]
LONDON, Printed by AUGUSTINE MATHEWES. MDCXXXIV.
TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS Princesse, FRANCIS, Duchess Dowager of RICHMOND, and LENNOX, &c.
FAME says (great PRINCESSE) that the
Powers-above,
Will soon forgive; which, I desire to prove:
For, I am guilty of a
Venial-sin
Against your GRACE; and, have remained therein
Without an
Absolution,
so long time,
That, now, my
Conscience
checks me for the
Crime
;
And, to reprove me for it, will not cease
Till I have, someway, sought to make my
Peace.
To palliate my
Fault,
I could produce
Enough, perhaps, to stand for an
Excuse.
But, when I mind what
Favors,
and what
Fame
I might have purchased unto my
Name,
(By taking Courage, to have done my best)
I dare not make
Excuses
; but, request
Your pardon, rather, and, that some
Oblation
May gain my
Person,
future acceptation.
To that intent, this humble
Offring,
here,
Within your gracious presence, doth appear.
And, that it may the more content your eye;
Well-graven
Figures,
help to beautify
My lowly
Gift:
And, veiled are in these,
A
Treasury
of Golden
Sentences
;
By my well-meaning
Muse,
interpreted,
That, with your NAME, their Morals may be spread,
And scattered,
Largesse-like,
(at your commanding)
To help enrich the
Poor in Understanding.
If YOU accept the
Tender,
I shall know,
Your GRACE is pleased with your
Servant,
so,
As, that there may be hope, my future Actions,
Will give the more contenting Satisfactions:
And, your
Encouragements,
my
Powers
may raise,
To make the BEAVTIES of your
Later days,
More glorious, far, than your fresh YOVTH's perfection,
Though, known to be, the
Load-stone
of
Affection.
For, like the loving TVRTLE, you have stood
So constant, in your vowed
Widow-hood
;
So strictly, kept a solitary state;
So faithful been, to your deceased MATE;
So firmly true, and truly kind, to
them,
Which are the
Branches
of his
Princely-stem
;
And, personated in so high a
Straine,
The parts of HONOR; that, my rustic
vain,
Must raised be, before it can ascend
To say, how much, your
Fame,
doth you commend.
Yet, if these
Lines,
(or,
that
they Usher in)
For me, some
Passage
may, anew, begin
To your
Esteem
; I, may so happily,
Illustrate forth, the
Golden-History
Of those
Affections,
which within your Brest,
Have to the world remained unexprest.
That, future times, to your applause may read,
The matchless
Paterne
of a
Widdowed-bed,
Which you have drawn, for those to
imitate
Who can; and, for the rest to wonder at.
For, what (thereto) yet wanteth, in my
Muse,
Your GRACE, as my
Minerva,
may infuse.
Nor, will it be in vain, to show the worth
Of those
Perfections,
truly blazed forth,
Which you may personate: Nor, shall it be
To your
Content
unuseful, when you see
The
Best part of yourself,
(as in a
Glass
)
Disclosed, and set up, before your GRACE,
To represent those
Beauties,
wherein lurks,
More sweetness, than in
Picture-drawers
Works;
And show, how temp'rall
Glor
•
es,
and
Affections,
Have hourly ripened you, for those
Perfections
That, make
Immortal
; and, which are that
End,
Whereto, all Earthly
Graces,
ought to tend.
Then, if your EXCELLENCE, desire to hear,
Those MVSES, honor you, whose praises; are
Attending
Virtue
; and, shall please to live
That
Life of Glory,
which my
Verse
can give;
Your GRACES favor, (when you please) hath pow'rs
To make both MEE, and all my
Muses
yours.
And, we are hopeful, that, so well we know
Your
Merits,
and those
Duties,
which we owe,
That, we shall raise, your HONOR'S
Trophies
high,
Though,
We ourselves,
upon the pavement lie.
Thus, I have made mine
Offring
; and I stand
Attending, now, to kiss your GRACES hand.
Your GRACES in all humility, GEO: WITHER.
TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY Prince, JAMES, Duke of LENNOX, &c.
WHen
Richmond,
your, beloved,
Vnkle,
lived,
(For whose departure, all this
Empire
grieved,
And, yet laments) his GRACE did not refuse
To deign respects, to my obscured MVSE;
Nor scorn, from
Highest-worth,
to stoop so low,
As, me, in my despisednesse, to know:
And, had not
Bashfulness
restrained my
Wit,
From pressing-on, (when he incourag'd it,)
My
PEGASVS,
had learned, e're now, to rise,
Which, yet, with lame, and sickly
Feathers
flies.
But,
HEE
hath left us; and, I thought not on
The loss I had of HIM, till he was gone;
Nor could I dream, till he did hence ascend,
What 'twas to want an
Honorable-friend:
Nor, what they feel, whom
Fate
constrains, to tarry
On stormy Plaines, without a SANCTVARIE.
As soon, as from among us, he made wing,
My
Hopes
did wane, and, I began to sing
A
Mournfull-song,
not easy to forget;
Because, I bear the
burden
of it, yet.
Nor was I silent (though my
Epicede
Appear'd not, for the public eye to read)
But, grieved in private, as one wanting
Art,
To give, the
Life of praise,
to his desert:
Which, if I could have equal'd with his
Name,
His
Death
had gained my
Verse,
a
living-Fame.
And, why express I this? except it give
Your GRACE, a fit occasion to perceive,
That, my decayed
Hopes
I would renew,
And, fain derive them down, from HIM to YOU?
That, as you branched from his Princely
Stem;
(Are, honor'd with his
Ducall-Diadem
)
And, imitate his Virtue; So, you might
Be
Lord,
in me, of that, which was his right:
And, for his Noble sake, vouchsafe to own
A
Servant,
which, to you, is yet unknown.
As
Prologue,
to the service I intend,
This PRESENT comes; and, without
Hope,
or
End,
Of gaining further
Grace,
or more
Esteem,
Than may, with humblest modesty, beseem
His
Love,
and
Honest-meaning,
to expect,
Whose,
Merits
have, no visible effect,
Conducing to your profit; and, from whom
The best of his intents, are yet to come.
I cannot think, these
Lots,
or
Emblems,
are
So worthy in themselves, as they'll appear
In your acceptance; Or, that they can give,
Such Grace to YOU, as they'll from you receive.
Yet, if YOU please, they may be, otherwhile,
A profitable Means, to help beguile
A Melancholy thought; And, have the power
To shorten (without loss) a tedious hour.
Sometime (no doubt) content you are in walk
In
Artlesse Groves;
Or, to admit the talk
Of Rustic
Swaines
(though every day you might
Your self in well-trimmed
garden-bowr's,
delight,
Or, hear the learnedst
Muses,
when you please;)
Even so, for change you may, perhaps, in these
A
Recreation
find; and, in some measure,
A
Profit,
intermixed with your
Pleasure.
I will not make my
Promises
too large,
Lest, my
Performances,
they overcharge
With
Expectation:
but, I leave them, SIR,
To
Be,
and to
be thought,
the same they are.
And, if your EXCELLENCE, (when you behold
The Ground whereon I first became so bold,
To make this Entrance) shall vouchsafe to deign
Those
Favors,
which, I dare not think to gain
By
Meer-deserving;
you may then, perchance,
My
Willingnesse,
to
Ablenesse
advance:
And reap in
Mee
(when ripened they are grown)
Some timely
fruits,
of that, which
you
have sown.
Till then, let it suffice, that I profess
A cheerful, and a thankful Readinesse
To honor
YOU;
and, openly to show
The Duty, which, it may appear, I owe
To HIM that's gone. And, let your GRACE descend
To take this
Pledge,
of what I more intend.
Who am in all humility Your GRACES to be commanded, GEO: WITHER.
If well thou dost, and well intend,
Thou shalt be crowned, in the end.
[illustration]
SI RECTE FACIES.
ILLVSTR. I. Book. 3
W
Hen, many, for the chiefest
Garland
run,
That height of
Glory,
can befall but one;
Yet,
Wreaths
there are, for every man prepared,
According as he meriteth
reward
:
And, though the
Work
deserveth little meed,
Grace,
prints a worth, on every
willing-deed,
Which forms it currant; and, doth gracious make
Man's weak endeavors, for GOD's
promise
sake.
All seek the self-same
prize
; but, do not seek,
With
mendes,
and, with
endeavors,
all alike.
Most, with the
Wreath
; but, few those things will do,
That may be helpful to attain thereto:
And, some (that
will be doing
) more delight
In
doing their own will,
then
doing right.
One, thinks by airy
titles,
to achieve
The
Palme
he seeks; Another, doth believe
It is gained, by giving to his
Appetite,
The fullness of his
Bodies
vain delight:
To reach their
aim,
some others nourish hopes,
By scrambling up unto the dunghill-tops;
Of temp'rall
Riches:
and, of all the ways,
Most think this
course
deserves the greatest
praise.
But, this our
Emblem's
Motto, doth imply,
That, nothing Man possesseth outwardly
Can purchase him the
Crown,
that should be sought,
Like
rightly-doing,
what is
rightly-taught.
And, that,
God
never passed any
doom.
To bar their
bless,
who righteous would become:
For, even to
Cain
he said (of sin detected)
If well thou dost, thou shalt be well respected.
A little
Wit,
may stand instead,
When
Strength
doth fail, in time of need.
[illustration]
SUPERAT SOLERTIA VIRES.
ILLVSTR. II. Book. 3
T
He
Squirrell,
when she must go seek her food,
By making passage through some neighb'ring
flood,
(And fears to be devoured by the Streame)
Thus, helps her weakness, by a
Stratagem.
On
blocks,
or
chips,
which on the waves do flote,
She nimbly leaps; and, making them her boat
(By help of Winds, of Current, and of Tide)
Is wafred over to the further side.
Thus, that, which for the
Body
proves unfit,
Must often be acquired by the
Wit.
And, what our ou
•
ward
Fortu
•
es
shall deny,
Our
providence
must labor to supply.
Those
Casualties,
which may our need befriend,
We should with heedful diligence attend;
And, watch to seize those
oppurtunities,
Which, men of abler fortunes may despise.
Some Birds, when they an
Oyster
would unlock,
Mount up, and let it fall upon a Rock;
And, when the Cockles on the Shores lie gasping,
(At ev'
••
Tides approach their Shells unclasping)
Crowes cast in
Pebles,
and so take that meat
By
craft,
which by their
force
they could not get.
We, by indeav'ring thus, may gain, at length,
That, which at first appears above our strength.
By little
Scr
•
wes
an entrance we may make,
Where
Barres of Iron
cannot passage break.
Small
Engines
lift huge weights; and, we have heard,
That one
Wiseman
(though poor without regard)
May save a City, when the
Men of War,
And, all their
Captains,
at a
non plus
are.
To
Kings,
both
Sword
and
Mace
pertain;
And, these they do not bear in vain.
[illustration]
NON SINE CAUSA.
ILLVSTR. III. Book. 3
W
Hen thou behold'st, upon a
Day of State,
The
King
(or, some inferior
Magistrate
)
Walk forth in public, and the royal
Mac
•
,
The
Sword,
or
Scepter
borne before his face:
Suppose thou not, that those are carried, so,
In ostentation, or for idle show.
These vulgar
Emblems,
are significant;
And, that
authority,
which
Princes
grant
To
Bodies political,
was, heretofore
Declared, by those
Ensigns,
which they bore.
The bruzing
Mace
(although, perhaps, with us,
It be not in these times, restrained thus)
That branch of
Royal-power
did signify,
Which doth by
Fines,
or
loss of liberty,
Correct Offenders. By the
Sword,
they meant,
That larger branch of
power,
to represent,
Which takes the
Malefactors
life away;
And, arms itself; when
Rebells
disobay.
As often, therefore, as thou shalt espy
Such
Hieroglyphickes
of
Authority
;
Be mindful, and advised (how mean soere
The
Persons,
or the
Places
may appear,
Who get this
power
) that still thou honor them:
Lest, thou in those, the power of
God
contemn.
If not for theirs, yet for thy
Sov'reigns
cause,
Whom these do personate; Or, for the
Laws,
(Which threaten punishment) thyself submit;
And, suffer what
Authority
thinks fit:
For, whatsoever they be that guide the
Reyne,
He,
gave the
power,
who gave it, not, in vain.
He, that concealed things will find,
Must look
before
him, and
behind.
[illustration]
PANDO RECONDITA.
ILLVSTR. IV. Book. 3
T
Hat
Head,
which in his
Temple,
heretofore,
The well-known figure of old
Ianus
bore,
Retain'd the form, which pictured here you find;
A Face before him, and a Face behind.
And this old
Hieroglyphic
doth comprize
A multitude of Heathenish Mysteries;
Which, we omitting, will insist on what
This
Emblem's
Motto, chiefly poynteth at.
In true
Divinity,
'tis
God
alone,
To whom, all hidden things are truly known.
He,
only, is that
ever-present-being,
Who, by the virtue of his power all-seeing,
Beholds, at one aspect, all things that
are,
That ever
shall be,
and that ever
were.
But, in a Moral-sense, we may apply
This
double-face,
that man to signify,
Who (whatsoever he undertakes to do)
Lookes, both
before
him, and
behind
him, too.
For, he shall never fruitfully forecast
Affa
•••
to come,
who minds not what is
past:
And, such as do not, oft,
before
them look,
May lose the labor, that's already took.
By, sometimes, looking
backward,
we behold
Those things, which have been done in
times of old
;
By looking wisely
forward,
we foresee
Such matters, as in
future-times
will be:
And, thus, we do not only fruits receive,
From that short space of
time,
in which we live;
But, by this means, we likewise have a share,
In
times to come,
and,
times that passed are.
Good
Fortune
will with him abide,
That hath true
Virtue,
for his guide.
[illustration]
VIRTUTE DUCE COMITE FORTUNA
ILLVSTR. V. Book. 3
T
He
Gryphon,
is the figure of a creature,
Not found within the Catalogues of
Nature:
But, by those Wits created, who, to show
Internal
things,
external Figures
drew:
The Shape, in which this
Fiction
they expressed,
Was borrowed from a
Fowl,
and, from a
Beast
;
Importing (when their parts were thus combined)
The
Virtues,
both of
Body,
and of
mind
:
And, Men are said on
Gryphons
backs to ride,
When those mixed
Virtues,
them have dignify'd.
The
Stone
(this
Brute
supporting) may express
The firm abiding, and the solidness
Of all true
Virtues.
That, long-winged
Ball,
Which doth appear fast-linked therewithal,
The gifts of changing
Fortune,
do imply:
And, all those things together, signify,
That, when by such-like
Virtues
Men are guided,
Good
Fortune
cannot be from them divided.
If this be true (as true I this believe)
Why should we murmur, why repine, or grieve,
As if our
Studies,
or our honest pains,
Deprived were of some deserved gains?
Why should we think the world hath done us wrong,
Because we are not register'd among
Those thriving men, who purse up evr'y day,
For
twelve hours labor
more then
twelve months pay?
If we our
pains
rewarded cannot see,
We count our
Merits
greater then they be.
But if we bide content, our worth is more;
And rich we are, though others think us poor.
When prosperous our
Affaires
do grow;
God's
Grace
it is, that makes them so.
[illustration]
FLOREBO PROSPICIENTE DEO.
ILLVSTR. VI. Book. 3
S
Vch pleasant
Flowres,
as here are shadow'd out
(Full-grown, well trimmed, and strongly fenc'd about)
At first, perchance, had planting (where they stand)
And, husbanding, by some good
Gard'ners
hand:
But, when to perfect ripeness, they are grown,
(And, spread forth leaves, and blossoms, fully blown)
They draw it from the Virtue of the
Sun,
Which worketh, when the
Gard'ners
work is done:
For, lost were all his Travaile, and his praise,
Unless that
Planet
cheare them with his rays.
In this our
Pilgrimage,
it fares with us
(In all our
hopes,
and all our
labors
) thus.
For, whatsoever bus'nesse we intend,
On
God,
our good successes do depend.
Our Hands may build; but, structures vain we make,
Till
God,
to be
Chief builder,
undertake.
To wall a
City,
we may bear the cost;
But, he mu
•
t
guard
it, or, the
Town
is lost:
The
Plow-man
useth diligence to sow;
But,
God
must bless it, or, no Corn will grow:
Yea, though
Paul
plant, and, though
Apollo
water,
They spend their sweat, upon a fruitless matter,
Till
God,
from heaven, their labors please to bless,
And crown their travels, with a good increase.
Let, therefore, those that flourish, like this
Flowre,
(And, may be withered, e're another hour)
Give
God
the praise, for making of their
Seeds
Bring forth sweet
Flowres,
that, else, had proved Weeds:
And, me despise not, though I thrive not so;
For,
when, God pleaseth, I shall flourish too.
If thou thy
Duties
truly do,
Of thy
Reward,
be hopeful too.
[illustration]
FAC ET SPERA.
ILLVSTR. VII. Book. 3
S
Ome
Sects
are found, who so
believing
be,
They think themselves from
legal-workings
free;
And, so they live, as if they stood in fear
That, with
Good-works,
their
God
offended were.
Another sort we know, who credit not,
That any hope of
Mercy
can be got,
Till they themselves, by their
external-deed,
Have
merited
the favors they shall need:
And, so they prize their
workings
; that, for
Grace,
They seem to disallow all useful place.
Both sorts, their errors may be purged from,
When to the
Fiery-trial
they shall come.
So, likewise, may another
Faction
too,
That err more deadly then these former do.
These do (forsooth) affirm, that
God's
decree
Before all
Worlds
(what Words can fouler be?)
D
•
bar'd the greatest part of
human-race,
Without respecting sin, from hope of
Grace
;
And, that, howere this number shall indeaver,
They must continue
Reprobates,
forever.
The first, are errors of Impiety;
But, this, ascends the top of blasphemy;
Dispoyles
Religion
wholly of her fruits;
And, wrongeth
God
in all his
Attributes.
These
Errors,
therefore shun; and, so
believe,
That we thy
Faith,
may by thy
Works
perceive.
So
work,
that thy
believing
may approve
Thou wrought'st not for thy
Wages
; but, for
love.
For (whatsoever thou be) if thus thou do,
Thou mayst have
hopes,
and,
God
will grant them too.
By
Wisdom,
things which pass away,
Are best preserved from decay.
[illustration]
RERUM SAPIENTIA CUSTOS.
ILLVSTR. VIII. Book. 3
T
He
Laurell,
which is given for a Crown
(To men deserving Glory, and renown)
Is figured here, those noble deeds to show,
For which, the
Wreaths
of
Honor,
we bestow.
Two
Serpents
(WISDOME'S
Emblems
) twisted are
About this branch of
Laurel,
to declare,
That,
Wisdom
is the su
•
est means to save
Our Names and Actions, from
Oblivion's
Grave.
The
Snakes
are
two,
perhaps, to signify
That
Moral-wit,
and
Christian policy
(Vnited both together) do contrive
The safest
guard,
and best
preservative.
Consider this, all ye, that trust your
Names
To Marble Monuments; or, mount your
Fames
By those poor means, which Fools and Knaves pursue;
And, may effect as easily as you:
Nay, with more ease; and, overtop you too,
When you have done the best, your wits can do.
I say, consider this; and, let the
Pen
Of learned, wise, and understanding men,
Renowne your worths, and register the story
Of your deserved, and, well-gotten glory;
L
•
st, else, it suffer close-imprisonments,
Within the walls of such poor
Monuments,
As oft are built, to leave it quite forgotten,
Whose bones they covered, e're those bones be rotten.
But, you shall best preserve your
Honest-fame,
Your
Works,
your
Hopes,
and
Honors
of your
Name,
If you yourselves be wise; and, so provide
That
Prudence,
all your
Works,
and
Speeches
guide.
Good
Hopes,
we best accomplish may,
By
lab'ring
in a
constant-Way.
[illustration]
LABORE ET CONSTANTIA.
ILLVSTR. IX. Book. 3
S
Ome Folkes there are, (and many men suppose,
That I myself, may pass for one of those)
Who many likely Businesses intend,
Yet, bring but very few, unto an end.
Which folly to prevent, this
Emblem,
here,
Did in a lucky hour, perhaps, appear.
For, as to draw a
Circle,
with our hand,
We cause the brazen
Compasses
to stand
With one foot firmly fixed one the ground;
And move the other in a
Constant-round:
Right so, when we shall purpose to proceed
In any ju
•
t, and profitable deed,
We first, should by a
constant-resolution,
Stand firm, to what we put in execution:
And, then, with
perseverance,
labor out
Those workings, which we are employed about.
For, we with
constant-liking,
must elect
Those Businesses, we purpose to effect:
Or else, our
time,
our
labor,
and our
cost,
Will, oft, be much in vain, or wholly lost.
With
constant-labor,
we must follow, too,
Those things, which we resolved are to do;
Or, else, our hopes will never be effected,
How warily soe're we have projected.
Long Iourneys I abhor; yet, otherwhile
I mean a
Furlong,
and perform a
Mile.
I greatly fear
Long-labors
to begin;
Yet, some I finish, when I am entered in:
And, if in
Labor,
I more
constant
grow,
How I improve, hereafter, you shall know.
Ere thou a
fruitful-Cropp
shalt see,
Thy ground must
plough'd
and
harro'wd
be.
[illustration]
EVERTIT ET AEQUAT.
ILLVSTR. X. Book. 3
B
Efore the
Plowman
hopeful can be made,
His until'd earth good Hay or Corn will yield,
He breaks the hillocks down, with
Plough
or
Spade
;
And, harrowes over, all the cloddie Field.
Then, from the
leaveld-ground,
at last, he mowes
That Cropp of grass, which he had hope to gain;
Or, there, doth reap the fruit of what he sows,
With profit, which contents him for his pain.
Our
craggle-Nature
must be tilled, thus,
Before it will, for
Herbs of Grace,
be fit.
Our
high-conceit,
must down be broke in us;
Our heart is proud, and God must humble it.
Before good
Seed,
in us will rooting take,
Afflictions
ploughes and harrowes, must prepare us:
And, that the truer
level,
he may make,
When we are
sunk
too low,
God's
hand must rear us.
Then, neither stormings of
Adversitie,
Shall drown the
Seedes of Hope,
which we have sown;
Nor shall the
Sun-beams
of
Prosperity,
Drie up their moisture, ere they ripe are grown.
Oh
Lord,
thou knowest the nature of my
mind
;
Thou knowest my
bodies
tempers what they are;
And, by what means, they shall be best inclin'de
Such
Fruits
to yield, as they were made to bear.
My barren
Soul,
therefore,
manure
thou so;
So,
harrow
it; so
empty,
and so
fill
;
So
raise
it
up,
and bring it
down,
so
low
As best may lay
it level
to thy
Will.
In
this Desire,
the work is well begun;
Say
thou
the
Word,
and all is fully
•
one.
True
Knowledge
is a constant
Friend,
Whose
Friendship,
never shall have end.
[illustration]
SCIENTIA IMMUTABILIS.
ILLVSTR. XI. Book. 3
B
Y viewing this
fixed-Head,
enwreath'd with
Bayes,
(And, what the
Motto
round about it says)
Your Apprehension's, eye, may partly see
What
constant Virtues,
in true
Knowledge
be.
For, if right placed it be, it ever will
Continue in the same condition, still:
And, though it make men's manners to be changed;
Yet, never is it, from it self, estrang'd:
Nor doth, nor can it, cease to be a
Friend,
What
Fate
soever, shall on us attend.
When
Wealth
is lost, or faileth to besteed us;
She finds out honest means to clothe and feed us.
In
far,
and
foreign Lands,
she will become,
As kind, and as familiar, as at home;
And,
travelleth,
without the costly cumber,
Of Carriages, or Clokebagges full of Lumber.
No
Place
can from our presence, her enclose;
Nor is she frighted from us by our
Foes.
No
Pickthankes,
of her Favors, can bereave us;
No
Promises,
can woo her to deceive us.
In
Youth,
in
Age,
in
Sickness,
and in
Griefe,
She bringeth Consolation and relief:
And, is in all estates, a blessing to us,
So constant (and so apt, all helps to do us)
That, he for whom, such
Knowledge,
God provideth,
Enjoyes a
Friend,
that always firm abideth.
Lord,
I am
friendless
left; therefore, to me,
This
Knowledge,
and this
Friend,
vouchsafe to be:
For, thou that
Wisdom
art, (from heaven descending)
Which, neither hath
beginning, change,
nor
ending,
By
Studiousnesse,
in
Virtue's
ways
Men gain an
universal-praise.
[illustration]
VIRTUTE AC STUDIO PER ORBEM FAMA PERPETUA COMPARATUR.
ILLVSTR. XII. Book. 3
W
Hen
Emblems,
of too many parts consist,
Their Author was no choice
Emblematist:
But, is like those, that wast whole
hours,
to tell
What, in three
minutes,
might be said as well.
Yet, when each member is interpreted,
Out of these vulgar
Figures,
you may read
A
Moral,
(altogether) not unfit
To be remembered, even, by
men of wit.
And, if the
Kernell
prove to be of worth,
No matter from what shell we drew it forth.
The
Square
whereon the
Globe
is placed, here,
Must
Virtue
be; That
Globe
upon the
Square,
Must mean the
World
; The
Figure,
in the
Round,
(Which in appearance doth her
Trumpet
sound)
Was made for
Fame
; The
Book
she bears, may show,
What
Breath
it is, which makes her
Trumpet
blow:
The
Wreath,
inclosing all, was to intend
A glorious
Praise,
that never shall have end:
And, these, in one sum'd up, do seem to say;
That, (if men
study
in a
virtuous-way
)
The
Trumpet
of a never-ceasing
Fame,
Shall through the
world
proclaim their praisefull
Name.
Now
Reader,
if large
Fame,
be thy ambition,
This
Emblem
doth inform, on what condition
She may be gained. But, (herein, me believe)
Thy
study
for mere-praise, will thee deceive:
And, if thy
Virtues,
be, but only, those
For which the vulgar
Fame,
her
Trumpet
blows,
Thy
Fame's
a blast; Thy
Virtues,
Vices be;
Thy
Study's
vain; and,
shame
will follow thee.
Above thy
Knowledge,
do not rise,
But,
with Sobriety, be wise,
[illustration]
NOLI ALTUM SAPERE.
ILLVSTR. XIII. Book. 3
E
Xalt thou not thyself,
though, placed thou be,
Upon the topp of that old
Olive-tree,
From whence the nat'rall branches pruned have been,
That, thou, the better, mightest be grafted in.
Be not so
over-wise,
as to presume
The
Gard'ner,
for thy goodness, did assume
Thy small
Crab-Olive,
to insert it, there,
Where, once, the
sweetest-berries,
growing were:
Nor let thy Pride those few
old-boughs
contemn,
Which, yet, remain upon their ancient
Stem
;
Because, thy new-incorporated
Sprayes,
Do more enjoy the
Suns
refreshing rays:
But, humbled rather, and, more awful be;
Lest,
he
that cut off
them,
do break down
thee.
Be
wise,
in what may to thy good, belong;
But, seek not
Knowledge,
to thy neighbors wrong:
Be thankful for the
Grace
thou hast received,
But, judge not those, who seem thereof bereaved;
Nor into those forbidden
secrets
peep,
Which
God-Almighty,
to himself doth keep.
Remember what our Father
Adam
found,
When he for
Knowledge,
sought beyond his bound.
For, doubtless, ever since, both
good
and
ill
Are left with
Knowledge,
intermingled still;
And, (if we be not humble, meek, and wary)
We are in daily danger, to miscarry.
Large, proves the fruit which on the
Earth
doth lie;
Winds,
break the twig, that's grafted
over-high
;
And, he that will, beyond his bounds, be
wise,
Becomes a very
Fool,
before he dies.
When each man keeps unto his
Trade,
Then, all things better will be made.
[illustration]
TRACTANT FABRILIA FABRI.
ILLVSTR. XIV. Book. 3
W
E more should thrive, and err the seldomer,
If we were like this honest
Carpenter,
Whose
Emblem,
in reproof of those, is made,
That love to meddle, farther then their
Trade.
But, most are now exceeding cunning grown
In every man's affairs, except their own:
Yea,
Cobblers
think themselves not only able,
To censure; but, to mend
Apelles
Table.
Great-Men,
sometime, will gravely undertake
To teach, how
Broomes
and
Morter,
we should make.
Their Indiscretions,
Peasants
imitate,
And boldly meddle with affairs of
State.
Some
Houswives
teach their
Teachers
how to pray,
Some
Clerks,
have showed themselves, as wife as they;
And in their Callings, as discreet have been,
As if they taught their
Grandames
how to
spin:
And, if these
Customs,
last a few more Ages,
All Countries will be nothing else, but
Stages
Of evil-acted, and mistaken parts;
Or,
Gallemaufries,
of imperfect
Arts.
But, I myself (you will say) have medlings made,
In things, that are improper to my
Trade.
No; for, the
MVSES
are in all things free;
Fit subject of their
Verse,
all Creatures be;
And, there is nothing named so mean, or great,
Whereof they have not Liberty to treat.
Both
Earth
and
Heaven,
are open unto these;
And (when to take more liberty they please)
They
Worlds,
and
things,
create, which never were;
And, when they list, they
play,
and
meddle,
there.
A
Shepherd
careful of the Sheep,
At all times, faithful
Watch
doth keep.
[illustration]
NON DORMIT QUI CUSTODIT.
ILLVSTR. XV. Book. 3
T
He Figure of a
Stork
in elder days,
Was used in
Hieroglyphic,
many ways:
But, when
one Foot,
thus grasp'd a
Peple-stone,
The other being firmly fixed on
The
Staff Episcopal
; in that position,
It makes an
Emblem,
of a late edition:
By some, thought not improper, to express
Their painful, and their serious,
watchfulness,
Who take upon themselves, the
Pastoral care
;
And, in that
Function,
truly
watchful
are.
The
Shepherds-Crooke,
doth some expression make
Of that regard, which, of their
Flocks,
they take.
The
Peble in the Foot,
doth seem to show,
That, these must farther diligence bestow,
(And, use their utmost pow
•
r) themselves to keep
From
slothful Ease
; and from intemp'rate
sleep:
For, he that hath such
Duties
undertook,
(And, must the lives of others overlook)
Shall find himself, unto himself become
A burden, and a Charge more troublesome
Th
•
n all his
Flock,
unless, he still provide
His own, as well as others
ways,
to guide.
Now, though this
Emblems
Moral doth concern
The
Clergy
most; yet, hence we all may learn
Strict
watch
to keep; since, unto all that be,
A
Watchmans
place belongs, in some degree.
Which, to discharge, if we endeavor, still,
Our universal
Shepherd
aide us will,
And us from harms and error he will keep,
For,
He that guardeth Isr'ell doth not sleep.
Our Days, until our Life hath end,
In
Labors,
and in
Hopes,
we spend.
[illustration]
IN SPE ET LABORE TRANSIGO VITAM.
ILLVSTR. XVI. Book. 3
A
S soon as our
first Parents
disobey'd,
Forthwith a
Curse,
for their offense, was laid,
Inforcing them, and their succeeding race,
To get their Food, with sweatings of the Face.
But, afterward, this
Doome
to mitigate,
(And ease the miseries of their estate)
God
gave them
Hope,
that she might help them bear
The burdens of their Travaile, and their care.
A
Woman
with an
Anchor,
and a
Spade,
An
Emblem
of that
Mystery
is made:
And, this Estate, we all continue in,
By God's free
Mercy,
and our proper
Sin.
By
Sin,
the
Labor
is on us entailed;
By
Grace,
it is, that
Hoping
hath not failed;
And, if in
Hope,
our Labors we attend,
That
Curse
will prove a
Blessing,
in the end.
My Lot is
Hope,
and
Labor;
and, between
These
Two,
my Life-time hath prolonged been:
Yet, hitherto, the best of all my
Paine,
With most of all my
Hopes
have been in vain;
And to the World-ward, I am like to wast
My time in fruitless
labors,
till the last.
However, I have still my
Hopes
as fair
As he, that hath no temptings to
Despair
;
And, change I will not, my
last hours
for theirs,
Whose
Fortune,
more desirable appears;
Nor cease to
Hope
and
Labor,
though, of most,
My
Hope
and
Labor
be adjudged lost:
For, though I lose the
shadow
of my
Paines,
The
stubstance
of it, still, in
God,
remains.
Man's life, no
Temper,
more doth bless,
Then
Simple-prudent-harmelessenesse.
[illustration]
PRUDENTE SIMPLICITATE.
ILLVSTR. XVII. Book. 3
W
Hen from the harmless
Turt
•
e,
and the
Snake,
Their most commended
properties
we take,
(And, mixe them well) they make a composition,
Which yields a
temper
of the best condition.
Yet,
wickedness,
or
sorrow,
doth abound,
Where, any
one
of these,
alone,
is found:
For, whensoe're the
Serpents-brain
we find,
With which, there is no
Dove like-mockenesse
join'd,
(Without all peradventure) thence proceeds,
All harmful fraud, and all injurious deeds.
And, where such
meekness
as doth seem to be
In harmless
Doves,
divided you shall see
From that
discretion,
and that
policy,
Which in the
Serpents
head, is thought to lie;
They liable to every wrong become;
And, to it self, make
Virtue
burthensome.
But, where these two are joined, they procure
A life so sweet, so rich, and so secure,
That, all the pow'rs of
Malice
cannot shake
Their
out-works,
nor
within
them, terrors make.
Vouchsafe thou oh my God! vouchsafe, in me,
That these two
Virtues
may united be.
Such
Prudence
give, as never will disdain
The
Dove-like Innocence,
to retain.
That
meekness,
grant me, which delighteth not,
It self, with
indiscretion,
to besot:
But, let these
two,
each other so defend,
And, so, in me continue, till my end,
That,
simple p
•
udence,
I may still possess,
Although the World shall count it
foolishness.
Where ere we dwell, the
Heavens
are near;
Let us but
fly,
and we are there.
[illustration]
TRANSITUS CELER EST ET AVOLAMUS.
ILLVSTR. XVIII. Book. 3
W
Hy, with a trembling faintness, should we fear
The face of
Death?
and, fondly linger here,
As if we thought the
Voyage
to be gone
Lay through the shades of
Styx
or
Acheron?
Or, that we either were to travel down
To uncouth
Deapthes,
or up some
heights
unknown?
Or, to some place remote, whose nearest end
Is farther then Earths limits do extend?
It is not by one half that distance, thither
Where
Death,
lets in, as it is any whither:
No not by half so far, as to your bed;
Or, to that place, where you should rest your head,
If on the ground you laid yourself (even there)
Where at this moment you abiding are.
This
Emblem
shows (if well you look thereon)
That, from your
Glass of life,
which is to run,
There's but one step to
Death
; and, that you tread
At once,
among the
Living,
and, the
Dead.
In whatsoever
Land,
we
live
or
die,
God
is the same; And,
Heaven
is, there, as nigh
As in that
place,
wherein, we most desire
Our
Souls,
with our last breathing, to expire.
Which things, well heeding; let us not delay
Our
Journey,
when we summoned are away,
(As those enforced
Pilgrims
use to do,
That know not whither, nor, how far they go)
Nor let us dream that we in
Time,
or
Place,
Are far from ending our uncertain
Race.
But, let us fixe on
Heaven,
a faithful eye,
And, still, be
flying thither,
till we die.
His
Pace,
must
wary
be, and
slow,
That hath a
Slippery-way
to go.
[illustration]
PEDE TENTIM.
ILLVSTR. XIX. Book. 3
A
Travailer, when he must undertake
To seek his passage, over some
Frozen Lake,
With
leisure,
and with
care,
he will assay
The glassy smoothness of that
Icie-way,
Lest he may
slip,
by walking over-fast;
Or, break the crackling
Pavement,
by his hast:
And, so (for want of better taking heed)
Incurre the mischiefs of
Vnwary-speed.
We are all
travellers
; and, all of us
Have many passages, as dangerous,
As
Frozen lakes
; and,
Slippery-ways,
we tread,
In which our Lives may soon be forfeited,
(With all our hopes of
Life-eternal,
too)
Unless, we well consider what we do.
There is no private
Way,
or public
Path,
But rubs, or holes, or slipp'tinesse it hath,
Whereby, we shall with
Mischiefes
meet; unless,
We walk it, with a
steadfast-wartnesse.
The steps to
Honor,
are on
Pinnacles
Compos'd of melting Snow, and Isicles;
And, they who tread not nicely on their tops,
Shall on a sudden slip from all their
hopes.
Yea, even that way, which is both sure and holy,
And, leads the Mind from Vanities and Folly,
Is with so many other
Path-ways
crossed,
As, that, by Rashness, it may soon be lost;
Unless, we well deliberate, upon
Those
Tracts,
in which our
Ancestors
have gone:
And, they who with more
haste,
then
heed,
will run,
May lose the way, in which they well begun.
Our
Pelican,
by bleeding, thus,
Fulfill'd the
Law,
and cured
Vs.
[illustration]
PRO LEGE ET PRO GREGE.
ILLVSTR. XX. Book. 3
L
Ooke here, and mark (her sickly birds to feed)
How freely this kind
Pelican
doth bleed.
See, how (when other
Salves
could not be found)
To cure their sorrows, she, her self doth wound;
And, when this holy
Emblem,
thou shalt see,
Lift up thy soul to him, who died for thee.
For, this our
Hieroglyphic
would express
That
Pelican,
which in the
Wilderness
Of this vast
World,
was left (as all alone)
Our miserable
Nature
to bemoan;
And, in whose eyes, the tears of pity stood,
When he beheld his own unthankful
Brood
His
Favors,
and his
Mercies,
then, contemn,
When with his wings he would have brooded them:
And, sought their endless peace to have confirmed,
Though, to procure his ruin, they were armed.
To be their
Food,
himself he freely gave;
His
Heart
was pierced, that he their
Souls
might save.
Because, they disobey'd the
Sacred-will,
He, did the
Law of Righteousness
fulfill;
And, to that end (though guiltless he had been)
Was offered, for our
Universal-sin.
Let me Oh
God!
forever, fixe mine eyes
Upon the Merit of that
Sacrifize:
Let me retain a due commemoration
Of those dear
Mercies, and
that bloody
Passion,
Which here is meant; and, by true
Faith,
still, feed
Upon the drops, this
Pelican
did bleed;
Yea, let me firm unto thy
Law
abide,
And, ever love that
Flock,
for which he died.
Be
Just
; for, neither
Sea
nor
Land,
Shall hide thee from the
Royal-hand.
[illustration]
DISCITE IUSTITIAM.
ILLVSTR. XXI. Book. 3
T
Hat, which we call the
Sea-horse,
is a Creature,
Whereby the Priests of
Egypt,
wonted were,
To typify an
Ill-disposed nature
;
And, such, as to their
Parents,
cruel are:
Because, this
Monster
(as their
Authors
write)
When strong he grows, becometh so ingrate,
That he pursues, with violent despite,
His old and weakly
Sire,
which him begat.
Contrariwise, the
Stork,
they figured, then,
When they occasion had, to signify
The good condition, of those honest men,
Who pleasure take, in works of
Piety:
Because, the
Storks,
not only harmed none,
But, helped their aged
Parents
in their need;
And, those offensive
Serpents,
prey'd upon,
Which, in the Fennes of
Egypt,
yearly, breed.
The
Royal-Crown,
therefore, supporting thus
That pious
Fowl,
and overtopping, here,
The wicked, and the fierce
Hyppotamus,
May serve to
comfort,
and to keep in
fear.
For, it informs, that, if we pious grow,
And love our
Princes
(who those
Parents
be,
To whom all
Subjects,
filial duties owe)
The blessings of their
Favors,
we shall see.
It shows us, also, that, if we affect
Vnrighteous-ways,
no
Wit,
or
Strength
of our,
Nor any
Vncouth-place,
shall us protect
From being reached, by the
Sovereign-power.
The way of
Justice,
therefore, learn thou still,
For love of
Goodness,
or for fear of
Ill.
Take wing, my
Soul,
and mount up higher;
For,
Earth,
fulfills not my
Desire.
[illustration]
NON EST MORTALE QUOD OPTO.
ILLVSTR. XXII. Book. 3
W
Hen
Ganymed,
himself was purifying,
Great
Jupiter,
his naked beauty spying,
Sent forth his
Aegle
(from below to take him)
A blest Inhabitant, in Heaven to make him:
And, there (as Poets feigned) he doth still,
To
Jove,
and other
God heads,
Nectar fill.
Though this be but a
Fable,
of their feigning,
The
Moral
is a
Real truth,
pertaining
To everyone (which harbours a desire
Above the Starry
Circles,
to aspire.)
By
Ga
•
ymed,
the
Soul
is understood,
That's washed in the
Purifying flood
Of sacred
Baptism
(which doth make her seem
Both pure and beautiful, in
God's
esteem.)
The
Aegle,
means that Heav'nly
Contemplation,
Which, after Washings of
Regeneration,
Lifts up the
Mind,
from things that earthly be,
To view those
Objects,
which
Faith's
Eyes do see.
The
Nectar,
which is filled out, and given
To all the blest
Inhabitants of Heaven,
Are those
Delights,
which (
Christ
hath said) they have,
When some
Repentant soul
begins to leave
Her foulness; by renewing of her
birth,
And, slighting all the
Pleasures
of the Earth.
I ask not,
Lord,
those Blessings to receive,
Which any Man hath power to take, or give;
Nor, what this World affords; for, I contemn
Her Favors; and have seen the best of them:
Nay,
Heaven
it self, will insufficient be,
Unless,
Thou,
also, give
Thy self,
to me.
Through many spaces,
Time
doth run,
And,
endeth,
where it first
begun.
[illustration]
IN SE SUA PER UESTIGIA UOLUITUR.
ILLVSTR. XXIII. Book. 3
O
Ld
Sages
by the Figure of the Snake
(Encircled thus) did oft expression make
Of
Annual-Revolutions;
and of things,
Which wheel about in
everlasting-rings
;
There
ending,
where they first of all
begun,
And, there
beginning,
where the
Round
was
done.
Thus, do the
Planets
; Thus, the
Seasons
do;
And, thus, do many other
Creatures,
too.
By minutes, and by hours, the
Spring
steals in,
And, rolleth on, till
Summer
doth begin:
The
Summer
brings on
Autumn,
by degrees;
So ripening, that the eye of no man sees
Her Entrances. That
Season,
likewise, hath
To
Winter ward,
as leisurely a path:
And, then, cold
Winter
wheeleth on amaine,
Until it bring: the
Spring
about again,
With all those
Resurrections,
which appear,
To wait upon her coming, every year.
These
Roundells,
help to show the
Mystery
Of that immense and blest
Eternity,
From whence the CREATVRE sprung, and, into
whom
It shall, again, with full perfection come,
When those
Additions,
it hath fully had,
Which all the sev'rall
Orbes
of
Time
can add.
It is a full, and fairly written
Scrowle,
Which up into it self, it self doth roll;
And, by
Vnfolding,
and,
Infolding,
shows
A
Round,
which n
•
ither
End,
nor
entrance
knows.
And (by this
Emblem
) you may partly see,
It is that which
IS,
but, cannot uttred be.
Each
Day
a
Line,
small
tasks
appears:
Yet, much it makes in threescore Yeares.
[illustration]
NULLA DIES SINE LINEA.
ILLVSTR. XXIV. Book. 3
H
Ere's but
one Line
; and, but
one Line a Day,
Is all that
task
our
Motto,
seems to lay:
And; that is thought, perhaps, a thing so small,
As if it were as good be naught at all.
But, be not so deceived; For, oft you see
Small things
(in time)
great matters,
rise to be:
Yea, that, which when the same was first begun,
A
Trifle
seemed, (and easy to be done)
By long nelect of time, will
burthensome,
And, at the last,
impossible,
become.
Great
Clerks,
there are, who shall not leave behind them,
One good
Weekes
work, for
Future Times
to mind them,
(In
Callings,
either Human, or Divine)
Who, by composing but
each Day a Line,
Might
Authors,
of some famous
Works
appear,
In sixty, seventy, or in eighty year;
To which, ten hundred thousands have arrived
Of whom, we see no sign that ev'r they lived.
And, with much pleasure, we might all effect,
Those needful
Works,
which often we neglect,
(Until too late) if we but, now and then
Did spare one hour to exercise the pen.
For, still,
one-Line,
another diaweth on,
And,
Line
by
Line,
great
Works
at last. are done.
Whereas,
dis use,
and many days misspent,
Without their
Lines,
let in
discouragement,
Or, bring
Despair;
which doth
〈◊〉
sot
•
ish make us,
That we, to no endeavor can berake us.
Mark this, and, labor in some honest
Way,
As much as makes, at least,
One Line a Day,
Our outward
Hopes
will take effect,
According to the
King's
aspect.
[illustration]
AD REGIS NUTUS.
ILLVSTR. XXV. Book. 3
W
Hen
Phoebus
with a cheerful eye, beholds
The Flow'r-embroydred earth, and freely spreads
His beams abroad; behold, the
Marigolds
Begin to rear their low-dejected heads:
The
Tulips, Daysies,
and the
Heliotropes
Of every kind, their closed Leaves display;
And (as it were) with new-recovered hopes,
Attend upon the
Ruler of the Day.
Again, when either in the
West
he shrowds
His Rayes below this
Horizon,
or hides
His Face behind the Curtaines of the
Clouds;
They lose their beauties, and abate their prides.
Thus fares it with a
Nation,
and their
King,
'Twixt whom there is a native Sympathy.
His
Presence,
and his
Favors,
like the
Spring,
Do make them sweetly thrive, and fructity:
Yea (like fresh
Groves,
or
Flow'rs
of pleasing hew)
Themselves in all their jollity they show;
But, they, if with displeasure, them he view,
Soone lose their Glory, and contemned grow.
All, are not
Heliotropes
that favor'd grow,
In
Princes
Courts; nor
Marigolds,
that bear
The golden blossoms; but some spring below,
Like
Daysie, flow'rs,
that in the Pathwayes are:
Yet all shall feel it, when their
Sov'radgues
eye
Doth frown, or smile, regard, or else neglect:
Yea, it will find them in
Obscurity,
By some Disheartning, or some sweet
Effect.
Vouchsafe to shine on Mee, my Gracious
King,
And then my
Wi
•
her'd
Leaves, will freshly, spring.
The
Right-hand. way,
is
Virtues
Path,
Though rugged Passages it hath.
[illustration]
HAC VIRTUTIS ITER.
ILLVSTR. XXVI. Book. 3
I
Fany covet knowledge of that
Path,
Which thither tends, where
Peace
her dwelling hath,
This
Emblem
(being well observed) will show
On whether side, it will be best to go.
The
Left▪ hand way,
seems to be walked, at ease,
Through Lawnes, and Downes, and green-swath'd Passages;
And, much allures the
Traveler,
to try
The many Pleasures, which do that
Way
lie.
The
Right-hand-course,
is through a
Pathlesse-mo
•
nd
Of newly ploughed, and deep-furrow'd Ground;
Which, as uneasy seemeth, to be gone,
As, in appearance, rough to look upon.
Yet, this is
Virtue's Path:
This
Way
uneven,
Is that, which unto every man is given,
To travail in; and, hath a safer ending,
Then those, whereon more
Pleasures
are attending:
And (though it leads us thither, where we see
Few promises of outward
Glories
be)
It brings (us when we pass the common fight)
Through easy
Tracts,
to gain our
Hearts delight.
The other
Way
(though seeming straight, it lies,
To
Pleasure's
Palaces, before our eyes)
Hath many rubs, and perils, which between
Our
Hopes,
and
Vs,
will always lurk unseen;
Till we are drawn so far, that 'twill be vain,
To seek, with safety, to return again.
This, let us heed, and, still, be careful, too,
Which
Course
is most concerneth us to go.
And, though the
Left-hand-way,
more smoothness hath,
Let us go forward, in the
Right-hand-path.
I was erected for a
Bound,
And I resolve to
stand my ground.
[illustration]
CONCEDO NULLI.
ILLVSTR. XXVII. Book. 3
T
He
Bounder-Stones,
held sacred, heretofore,
Some did so superstitiously adore,
As, that they did not only rev'rence do them,
But, have ascribed a kind of
God-head,
to them:
For,
Terminus
had many a
Sacrifize,
As well as other senseless
Deities.
I am not so profane, as to desire
Such Ethnic zeal should set our hearts on fire:
But, wish I could, Men better did regard
Those
Bounders,
which
Antiquity
hath reared;
And, that, they would not, with so much delight,
There, make
encroachments,
where they have no
righ
•
▪
That, every man might keep his own
Possessions,
Our Fathers, used in reverent
Processions
(With zealous prayers, and with praisefull cheer)
To walk their
Parish▪ limits,
once a year:
And, well known
Markes
(which sacrilegious Hands
Now cut or break) so bord'red out their Lands,
That, everyone distinctly knew his own;
And, many brawls, now rise, were then unknown.
But, since neglected, sacred
Bounders
were,
Most men
Incroachers,
and
Intruders
are:
They grieve each other, and their
Dues
they steal,
From
•
rince,
from
Parent,
and from
Common-weal.
Nay, more; these bold Usurpers are so rude;
That, they, on
Christ's
Inheritance intrude.
But, that will be avenged; and (on his
right
)
Though such encroach, he will not lose it quite:
For, he's that
Bounder,
and that
Corner-stone,
Who all
confines,
and is
confined,
of none.
Where
Lovers
fitly matched be,
In
mutual-duties,
they agree
[illustration]
MANUS MANUM LAUAT.
ILLVSTR. XXVIII. Book. 3
W
Ould God, I could as feelingly infus
•
▪
A good effect of what this
Emblem
shows,
As I can tell in words, what
Moralls
be,
The use of that, which here you pictured fee.
Most
Lovers,
mind their
Penny,
or their
Pleasure;
Or, painted
Honors;
and, they all things measure,
Not as they are, but as they helpful seem,
In compassing those toys, they most esteem.
Though many wish to gain a faithful
Friend,
They seldom seek one, for the noblest end:
Nor know they (should they find what they had sought)
How
Friendship
should be managed, as it ought.
Such, as good
Husbands
covet, or good
Wives
(The dear companions of most happy lives)
Wrong Courses take to gain them; yet, contemn
Their honest love, who rightly counsel them:
And, lest, they unawares the Mark may hit,
They blind their
judgments,
and befool their
wit.
He, that will find a
Friend,
must seek out one
To exercise unfeigned
love
upon;
And,
mutual-duties,
must both yield▪ and take,
Not for himself, but, for his
Friendship
sake.
Such, as do rightly
marry,
neither be
With
Dowries
caught, nor woo a
Pedigree;
Nor. merely come together, when they wed,
To reap the youthful pleasures of the Bed:
But, seek that fitness, and, that
Sympathy,
Which maketh up the perfect'st
Amity.
A
pair,
so matched;
l
•
ke Hands that wash each other,
As
mutual helps,
will sweetly live together.
When
Law,
and
Arms,
together meet,
The
World
descends, to kiss though
••
feet.
[illustration]
LEGIBUS ET ARMIS.
ILLVSTR. XXIX. Book. 3
T
He Picture of a
Crowned king,
here, stands
Upon a
Globe
; and, with outstretched hands,
Holds forth, in view, a
Law book,
and a
Sword:
Which plain and moderne
Figures,
may afford
This meaning; that, a
King,
who hath regard
To
Courts for pleading,
and
a Court of Guard,
And, at all times, a due respect will carry,
To pious
Laws,
and
Actions military
;
Shall not be
Monarch,
only in those Lands,
That
are,
by
Birth right,
under his commands:
But, also, might (if just occasion were)
Make this whole
Globe
of Earth, his power to fear;
Advance his
Favorites;
and, bring down all
His
opposites,
below his pedestall.
His conquering
Sword,
in foreign Realms, he draws,
As oft, as there is just, or needful cause:
At home, in every
Province
of his Lands,
At all times, armed are his
Trayned bands.
His
Royal fleets,
are terrors to the Seas;
At all hours, rigg'd, for useful Voyages:
And, often, be his Navy doth increase,
That
Wars
Provisions, may prolong his
Peace.
Nor, by the tenure of the
Sword,
alone,
Delighteth he to hold his awful
Throne,
But, likewise, labors, Mischiefes to prevent,
By wholesome
Laws,
and rightful
Goverment.
For, where the
Sword
commands, without the
Law,
A
Tyrant
keeps the Land in slavish awe:
And, where good
Laws
do want an
Armed power,
Rebellious
Knaves,
their
Princes,
will devour.
Faire-shows,
we should not so much heed,
As the Uprightness of the
Deed.
[illustration]
NON QUAM FORMOSA SED QUAM RECTA.
ILLVSTR. XXX. Book. 3
W
Hen we should use a
Ruler,
or a
Square,
Or such like
Instruments,
as useful are,
In forming other things; we prize not so
The carving, or the colorable show
(Which makes them beautiful in outward sight)
As when, for
Usefulness,
we find them right.
A warped
Bowe,
though strung with silken threads,
And, crooked
Arrows,
tipped with Golden heads,
Delight not
Archers;
tyet, such useless Toyes
Be fit enough for Bunglers, and for Boys.
A skillful
Artist
(in what Art soe're,
He seeks, to make his ableness appear)
Will give large Prices, with much more content,
To buy a plain (if perfect)
Instrument
;
Then, take for nothing (or, for thanks alone)
An useless
Toole,
though, gay to look upon.
From whence, observe; that, if there must be sought,
When mere
Mechanic-works
are to be wrought,
Such
Instruments,
as rather have esteem
For their
true-being,
then for what they seem.
Much more, should all those
Rules
be such, whereby
We go about, ourselves to rectify;
And, build up, what in
Body,
or in
mind,
We may defective, or impaired find.
Else peradventure, that we think to mend,
More faulty may become, at later end.
But, hence, I chiefly learn, to take a care,
My
Life,
and
Actions,
rather be
sincere,
Then
seeming
such: And, yet, I will think no shame,
To
seem,
to be as honest, as
I am.
My Substance,
and my
Light,
are spent,
In seeking other men's content.
[illustration]
ALIIS IN SERVIENDO CONSUMOR.
ILLVSTR. XXXI. Book. 3
I
F this nigh-wasted
Candle,
you shall view,
And, heed it well, it may enlighten you
To look with more compassion, on their pains,
Who rob themselves, to multiply your gains.
The
Taper
burns, to give another light,
Even till it self, it hath consumed quite;
And, all the profit, which it thence doth win,
Is to be snufft, by every
Commer-in.
This is the Lot of some, whom I have known,
Who, freely, all their life-time, have bestowne
In such industrious labor, as appears,
To further others profits, more then theirs;
And, all their
Patrimonies,
well nigh spent,
The ruining of others, to prevent.
The
wit,
the
strength,
and all the
power
they had,
(Which might, by probability, have made
Good means to raise them, in this world, as high,
As most, who climb to wealthy dignity)
Even these, they have bestowed, to better them,
Who their endeavors, for their pains, contemn.
These are those
Lamps,
whose
flames,
from time to time,
Have through each
Age,
and through-our every
Clime,
To one another, that true
Light
conveyed,
Which
Ignorance,
had, else, long since betrayed
To utter darkness. These, despiteful
Pride
Oft snuffs; and, oft, to put them out, hath tried.
But, from the brightness of such
Lights,
as they,
We got our
Light of knowledge,
at this day.
To
them,
God make us kinder; and to
Him,
More thankful, that we gained such light by
them.
The safest
Riches,
he shall gain,
Who always
Faithful
doth remain.
[illustration]
DITAT SERVATA FIDES.
ILLVSTR. XXXII. Book. 3
T
He
Horne-of-plenty,
which
Wealth
signifies,
The
Hand-in-hand,
which
Plighted faith
implies,
(Together being painted) seem to teach,
That, such as will be
honest,
shall be
rich.
If this be so, why then for
Lucre-sake,
Do many break the
Promises
they make?
Why do they cheat and cozen, lie, and swear?
Why practice they all Villanies that are?
To compass
Wealth?
And, how do such as they
Inlarge their ill-got
Portions,
every day?
Or, whence proceeds it, that sometimes we see
Those men grow poor, who
faithful
seem to be?
Thus, oft it proves; and, therefore,
Falsehood
can,
In likelihood, much more enrich a man,
Then blameless
Faith;
and, then, the
Motto
here
Improper to this
Emblem,
doth appear.
But, well enough they suit; and, all is true,
Which these things (being thus united) show.
Should it be then concluded, that all those,
Who poor and honest seem, have made but shows
Of real
Faith?
And, therefore, plagu'd have been
With public lashes, for their private sin?
Indeed, sometime it hath succeeded so:
But, know you should, that, most who richest grow,
In
Outward-wealth,
are very poor in that,
Which brings true
Plentie,
and a blest Estate:
And, that,
Good men,
though poor they seem to be,
Have
Riches,
which the
Worldling
cannot see,
Now He, who finds himself endowed with such,
(What e're we think him) is exceeding
rich.
Poor-Thieves, in Halters,
we behold,
And,
great-Thieves,
in their
Chaines of gold.
[illustration]
FVRES PRIVATI IN NERVO PVBLICI IN AVRO
ILLVSTR. XXXIII. Book. 3
I
F you, this
Emblem,
well have looked upon,
Although you cannot help it, yet, bemoan
The Worlds black Impudence; and, if you can,
Continue (or become) an honest man.
The poor, and petty
Pilferers,
you see
On
Wheeles,
on
Gibbets,
and the
Gallow tree
Trust up; when they, that far more guilty are,
Pearl, Silke, and costly Cloth of Tissue, wear.
Good
God!
how many hath each
Land
of those,
Who, neither limb, nor life, nor credit lose
(But, rather live befriended, and applauded)
Yet, have of all their livelihoods defrauded
The helpless
Widows,
in their great distress?
And, of their Portions, robbed the
Fatherless?
Yet, censured others Errors, as if none
Had cause to say, that they amiss have done?
How many, have assi
•
ted to condemn
Poor souls, for what was never stolen by them?
And, persecuted others, for that Sin,
Which they themselves, had more transgressed in?
How many worthless men, are great become,
By that, which they have stolen, or cheated from
Their
Lord's?
or (by some practices unjust)
From those, by whom they had been put in trust?
How many
Lawyers,
wealthy men are grown,
By taking Fees, for
Causes
overthrown
By their defaults? How many, without fear,
Do rob the
King,
and
God,
yet blameless are?
God
knows how many! would I did so, too,
So I had power to make them better do.
Whilst thou dost, here, enjoy thy breath,
Continue
mindful
of thy
Death.
[illustration]
MEMENTO MORI.
ILLVSTR. XXXIV. Book. 3
W
Hen thou beholdest on
this Burying-stone,
The melancholy
Night-bird,
sitting on
The fleshlesse ruins of a
rotten-Skull,
(Whose Face, perhaps, hath been more beautiful,
Then thine is now) take up a serious thought;
And, do as thou art by the
Motto
taught.
Remember Death:
and mind, I thee beseech,
How soon, these
Fowls
may at thy window screech;
Or, call thee (as the common people deem)
To dwell in
Graves,
and
Sepulchers,
by them,
Where nothing else, but
Bats,
and
Owls,
appear;
Or,
Goblins,
formed by
Fancies,
and, by
Fear.
If thou shalt be advised, to meditate
Thy lat
•
er end, before it be too late,
(And, whilst thy
friends, thy strength,
and
wits
may be
In likely case, to h
•
lp and comfort thee)
There may be courses taken, to divert
Thos
•
Frights,
which, else, would terrify thy heart,
When
Dea
•
h
draws near; and help thee pluck away
That S
•
ng, of his, which would thy Soul dis
•
ay.
But, i
•
thou madly ramble onward, still,
Til t
•
ou art sinking down that
darksom hill,
Which borders on the
Grave
(and dost b
•
gin
To see,
•
he Shades of
Terror,
and of
Sin
To fly
•
cross thy
Conscience
) 'twill be hard
To
〈◊〉
this
Lesson;
or, to be prepared
For th
••
sad parting, which, will forced be,
Be
•••
e
•
hi
•
much beloved
World,
and
thee.
Consider this, therefo
•
e, while
Time
thou hast,
An
•
, put not off this
Bus'nesse,
till the last.
Do not the golden
Mean,
exceed,
In
Word,
in
Passion,
nor in
Deed.
[illustration]
SERVA MODVM.
ILLVSTR. XXXV. Book. 3
A
S is the head-strong
Horse,
and blockish
Mule,
Even such, without the
Bridle,
and the
Rule,
Our
Nature grows;
and, is as mischievous,
Till
Grace,
and
Reason,
come to govern us.
The
Square,
and
Bridle,
therefore let us heed,
And, thereby learn to know, what
helps
we need;
Lest, else, (they failing, timely, to be had)
Quite out of
Order,
we, at length, be made.
The
Square,
(which is an useful
Instrument,
To shape forth senseless
Forms
) may represent
The
Law:
Because,
Mankind,
(which is by Nature,
Almost as dull, as is the
senseless-creature,
)
Is thereby, from the
native-rudeness,
wrought;
And in the
Way
of honest-living taught.
The
Bridle,
(which Invention did contrive,
To
•
ule, and guide the
Creature-sensitive
)
May type fo
••
h
Discipline;
which, when the
Law,
Hath school'd the
Wit,
must keep the
Will
in awe.
And, he that can by these, his
Passions
bound,
This
Emblems
meaning, usefully, hath found.
Lord, let thy sacred
Law,
at all times, be
A
Rule,
a
Master,
and a
Glass
to me;
(A
Bridle,
and a
Light
) that I may, still,
Both know my
Duty,
and obey thy
Will.
Direct my
Feet;
my
Hands,
instruct thou so,
That I may neither
wander,
nor
mis
•
do.
My
Lookes,
my
Hearing,
and my
Words
confine,
To keep still firm, to every
Word
of thine.
On thee, let also my
Desires
attend:
And, let me hold this
temper,
till mine end.
We then have got the surest
prop,
When
God,
alone, becomes our
Hope.
[illustration]
FVLCRVM TVTIS SIMVM
ILLVSTR. XXXVI. Book. 3
I
Should not care how hard my
Fortunes
were,
Might still my
Hopes
be such, as now they are,
Of helps divine; nor fear, how poor I be,
If thoughts, yet, present, still may bide in me.
For, they have left assurance of such
aid,
That, I am of no dangers, now afraid.
Yea, now I see, me thinks, what weak and vain
Supporters
I have sought, to help sustain
My fainting heart; when some injurious hand,
Would undermine the Station where I stand.
Me thinks, I see how scurvie, and how base,
It is to scrape for favors, and for grace,
To men of earthly minds; and unto those,
Who may, perhaps, before tomorrow lose
Their Wealth, (or their abused Authority)
And, stand as much in want of help as I.
Me thinks, in this
new-rapture,
I do see
The hand of
God
from heaven supporting me,
Without those
rotten-Ayds,
for which I whinde,
When I was of my tother
vulgar-mind:
And, if in someone part of me it lay,
I, now, could cut that
Limbe
of mine away.
Still, might I keep this mind, there were enough
Within
myself, (beside that cumbring stuff
We seek
without
) which, husbanded aright,
Would make me
Rich,
in all the
Worlds
despite.
And, I have hopes, that, had she quite bereft me,
Of those few
rags
and
toys,
which, yet, are left me;
I should on
God,
alone, so much depend,
That, I should need, nor
Wealth,
nor other
Friend.
True
Virtue,
firm, will always bide,
By whatsoever
sufferings
tried.
[illustration]
VIRTUS INEXPUGNABILIS.
ILLVSTR. XXXVII. Book. 3
T
His is a well-known
Figure,
signifying,
A man, whose
Virtues
will abide the trying:
For, by the nature of the
Diamond stone,
(Which,
Violence,
can no way work upon)
That
Patience,
and
longsuffering
is intended,
Which will not be with
Injuries
offended;
Nor yield to any base dejectedness,
Although some bruising
Power,
the same oppress;
Or, such hard
straits,
as theirs, that hamm'rings feel,
Betwixt an
Anvil,
and a
Sledge
of Steele.
None ever had a perfect
Virtue,
yet,
But, that most
Pretious-stone,
which God hath set
On his right hand, in
beaming-Majesty,
Upon the
Ring
of blest
ETERNITIE.
And, this, is that impenitrable
Stone,
The
Serpent
could not leave impression on,
(Nor sign of any
Path-way
) by temptations,
Or, by the power of fly insinuations:
Which wond
•
ous
Mystery
was of those
five,
Whose depth King
Solomon
could never dive.
Good
God
! vouchsafe, even for that
Diamond-sake,
That, I may of his
preciousness,
partake,
In, all my
Trialls▪
make me always able
To bide them, with a mind impenitrable,
How hard, or oft so'ere, those
hamm'rings
be,
Wherewith
Afflictions
must
new fashion
me.
And, as the common
Diamonds
polished are,
By their own dust; so, let my
errors
wear
Each other ou
•
; And, when that I am pure,
Give me the
Luster, Lord,
that will endure.
Truth,
oft
oppressed,
we may see,
But, quite
suppressed
it cannot be.
[illustration]
VERITAS PREMITUR NON OPPRIMITUR.
ILLVSTR. XXXVIII. Book. 3
T
His is that fruitful
Plant,
which when it grows,
Where wholesome
Water
in abundance flows,
Was, by the
Psalmist,
thought a likely
Tree,
The
Emblem,
of a
blessed-man,
to be:
For, many ways, it fitly typifies,
The
Righteous-man,
with his proprieties;
And, those true
Virtues,
which do help increase
His growing, in the state of
Blessedness.
The
Palme,
(in this our
Emblem,
figured, thus)
D
•
pressed with a
Stone,
doth show to us
The power of
Truth:
For, as this
Tree
doth spread,
And thrive the more, when weights press down the head;
So,
God's
eternal
Truth
(which all the power
And spite of
Hell,
did labor to devour)
Sprung high, and flourished the more, thereby,
When
Tyrants
crushed it, with their cruelty.
And, all inferior
Truths,
the same will do,
According as they make approaches to
The best
Perfection;
or, as they conduce
To
God's
due
praise,
or some such pious use.
Lord,
still, preserve this
Truth's
-integrity,
Although on every side, the wicked pry,
To spy how they may disadvantage it.
Yea,
Lord,
though
Sinners
in high place do sit,
(As
David
saith) yet, let them not oppress
Thy
Veritie,
by their imperiousnesse.
But, make both
Her,
and her
Professors,
bide
The
Test,
like
Silver seven times purifide.
That, all
Truths
lovers, may with comfort see,
She may
depre
•
t,
but, not,
oppressed
be.
They, who but
slowly-paced
are,
By
plodding
on, way travail far.
[illustration]
PAS A PAS.
ILLVSTR. XXXIX. Book. 3
T
He big-bon'd
Ox,
in pace is very slow,
And, in his travail,
step
by
step,
doth go,
So leisurely, as if he tired had been,
Before his painful Journey did begin;
Yet, all the day, he stiffly ploddeth on,
Until the labor of the day be done:
And, seems as fresh (though he his task hath wrought)
As when to work, he first of all was brought.
Mean-while, the
Palfray,
which more swiftness had,
Hath lost his breath, or proves a
Resty-jade.
This
Emblem,
therefore, maketh it appear,
How much it profiteth, to
persevere
;
And, what a little
Industry
will do,
If we continue
constant
thereunto.
For, meanest
Faculties,
discreetly used,
May get the start, of nobler
Gifts,
abused.
This, may observed be in many a one:
For (when their course of life was first begun)
Some, whose refined
wits,
aspi'rd as high,
As if above the
Sphaeres,
they were to fly:
By
Sloth,
or
Pride,
or over-trusting to
Their own Sufficiencies, themselves undo.
Yea and those
forward-wits,
have lived to see
Themselves inferiors, unto those, to be,
Whom, they did in their jollity, contemn,
As blocks, or dunces, in respect of them.
Then, learn,
Great-wits,
this folly to prevent:
Let
Mean-wits,
take from hence, encouragement:
And, let us all, in our
Affaires
proceed,
With timely
leisure,
and with comely
speed.
Vncertaine,
Fortunes
Favors, be,
And, as the
Moon,
so changeth
She.
[illustration]
FORTUNA UT LUNA.
ILLVSTR. XL. Book. 3
O
Vr
Author,
peradventure, giveth us
Dame
Fortune
(for these Reasons) pictured, thus:
She
hath a
Comely-body,
to declare,
How pleasing she doth usually appear
To them, that love her Favors. She is
blind,
(Or, hath still closed eyes) to put in mind,
How blindly, and how heedlessly, she throws
Her
Largesse,
where her
Bounty,
she bestows.
She
stands upon a Ball;
that, we may learn,
Of outward things, the
tottering,
to discern:
Her
Ball
hath
wings;
that it may signify
How apt her
Favors
are, away to
fly.
A
Skarfe displayed by the wind,
she bears,
(And, on her
naked-Body,
nothing wears)
To show, that what her
Favorite
enjoys,
Is not so much for
Usefulness,
as
toys.
Her
Head is hairelesse, all, except before;
To teach thee, that thy care should be the more
To hold her
foremost kindness,
always fast;
Lest, she do show thee slipp'ry tricks, at last.
And, lastly, that her
changing
may be shown;
She beareth in her Hand a
Wayned
m
oone.
By this Description, you may now descry
Her true conditions, full as well as I:
And, if you, still, suppose her, worth such honor,
You have my leave to
woo,
and
wait
upon her.
Moreover (to her credit) I confess,
This
Motto
falsely saith, her
Ficklenesse
Is like the
Moons:
For, she hath frowned on me
Twelve
Moons,
at least; and, yet, no
Cha
••
e
I see
Untill the
Steele,
the
Flint
shall smite,
It will afford nor
Heat,
nor
Light.
[illustration]
ANTE FERIT QUAM FLAMMA MICET.
ILLVSTR. XLI. Book. 3
W
Hilst by the Highway-side, the
Flint-stone
lies,
Drie, cold, and hardness, are the properties
We then perceive: But, when we prove it nigher,
We find, that,
Coldnesse
doth inclose a
Fire;
And, that, though
Rain,
nor
cloudy-sky
appears,
It will be (many times) bedew'd with
tears.
From hence, I mind, that many wronged are
By being judged, as they, at first, appear;
And, that, some should be praised, whom we despise,
If
inward-Grace,
were seen with
outward-Eyes.
But, this is not that
Moral
(we confess)
Which this our
Emblem,
seemeth to express:
For (if the
Motto
speak the meaning right)
It shows, that,
hard-afflictions
first must smi
•
e
Our hardened hearts, before it will be seen,
That any
light
of
Grace,
in them, hath been.
Before the
Flint
will send forth shining Rayes,
It must be stricken, by the
Steele, (
it says.
)
Another
Moral,
add we may to this,
(Which, to the
Figure,
suits not much amiss.)
The
Steele,
and
Flint,
may fitly represent
Hard-hearted men,
whose minds will not relent:
For, when in
opposition,
such become,
The
fire
of
Malice,
flames and sparkles from
Their threatening Eyes; which else, close hidden rests,
Within the closets of their flinty breasts:
And, flame out-right it will not, (though it smokes)
Till
Strife
break passage, for it, by her
strokes.
If any of these
Moralls
may do good,
The purpose of my pains is understood.
My
Wit
got
Wings
and, high had flown.
But,
Poverty
did keep me down.
[illustration]
PAVPERTATE PREMOR SUBLEUOR INGENIO.
ILLVSTR. XLII. Book. 3
Y
Ou little think, what plague it is to be,
In plight like
him,
whom pictured here you see.
His
winged-Arm,
and his
up lifted-eyes,
Declare, that he hath
Wit,
and
Will,
to rise:
The
Stone,
which cl
•
gs his other
hand,
may show
That,
Poverty
and
Fortune,
keep him low:
And, twixt these
two,
the
Body
and the
Mind,
Such labors, and such great vexations find,
That, if you did not such men's wants contemn,
You could not choose but help, or pity them.
All Ages had (and, this I know hath some)
Such men, as to this misery, do come:
And, many of them, at their
Lot,
so grieve,
As if they knew, (or did at least believe)
That, had their
Wealth
suffiz'd them to aspire
(To what their
Witts
deserve, and they
desire
)
The pr
•
sent Age. and future Ages too,
Might gain have had, from what they thought to do.
Perhaps I dreamed so once: But, God be praised,
The
Clog
which kept me down, from being raised,
Was chained so fast, that (if such
Dreams
I had)
My
thoughts,
and
longings,
are not now so mad.
For, plain I see, that, had my
Fortunes
brought
Such
Wealth,
at first, as my small
Wit
hath sought;
I might myself, and others, have un
•
one,
Instead of
Courses,
which I thought to run.
I find my
Poverty,
for me was fit;
Yea, and a
Blessing,
greater than my
Wit
:
And, whether, now, I
rich
or
poor
become,
It is nor much
pleasing,
nor much
troublesome.
A
Mischiefe,
hardly can be done,
Where
many-pow'rs
are knit in
one.
[illustration]
VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR.
ILLVSTR. XLIII. Book. 3
O
Bserve the
Sheafe of Arrows,
figured here;
And, how the power, and fury, of the
Bear
(Though he attempt it) no device can find
To break one
slender-shaft,
while they are
join'd
:
Whereas, were they
divided,
strength but small,
Like rotten Kexes, would soon break them all.
This
Emblem,
therefore, fitly doth imply
That Safeguard, which is found in
Unity
;
And, shows, that, when
Dis-union
is begun,
It breedeth dangers, where before were none.
The
Psalmist,
numerous
Off-springs,
doth compare
To
Quivers,
that with
Shafts
replenished are.
When
Unity
hath knit them in her
hands,
They prove like
Arrows
in a
Giants
hands.
And, though, for these, their Foes in wait have laid,
They shall not be supriz'd, nor made afraid.
Consider this, ye
Children of one Sire,
'Twixt whom, is kind ad some contentious
fire,
And, reconciled be, left
〈◊〉
, at length,
Consume away the marrow of your
strength;
Or, by dividing, of your
joined-power,
Make way for those, who study to devour.
Yea, let us all consider, as we ought,
What
Lesson,
by this
Emblem,
we are taught.
For, we are
Brethren
all; and (by a
Blood
More precious, then our nat'rall
Brother-hood
)
Not knit, alone, but mingled, as it were,
Into a
League
; which is, by much, more dear,
And, much more dangerous, to be undone,
Then all the
Bands,
that can he thought upon.
They, best enjoy their Hearts desires,
In whom,
Love,
kindles
mutual-fires.
[illustration]
AMORE MUTUO.
ILLVSTR. XLIV. Book. 3
W
Hat may the reason be, that, when Desire
Hath kindled in the breast, a
Loving-fire,
The
Flame,
which burned awhile, both clear & strong,
Becomes to be extinguished, ere long?
This
Emblem
gives the reason; for, it shows,
That, when
Affection,
to perfection grows,
The
Fire,
which doth enlighten, first, the same,
Is made an
equal,
and a
mutual-flame.
These burning
Torches,
are alike in
length
;
To show,
Love equal,
both in
time,
and
strength.
They, to each otherward, their
Flames
extend,
To teach us, that,
True-lovers
have no end
Pertayning to
Self-love
; and, lo, between
These
Two,
one
Flaming heart,
is to be seen;
To signify, that, they, but
one,
remain
In
Mind
; though, in their
Persons,
they are
twain.
He, doubtless, then, who
Lov'd,
and, giveth over,
Deserveth not the Title of a
Lover
at
Or, else, was unrequited in Affection,
And, was a
Lover,
with some imperfection.
For,
Love,
that loves, and is not loved as much,
May perfect grow; but, yet, it is not such,
Nor can be, till it may that
object
have,
Which
gives
a
Heart,
for what it would
receive:
And, looks not so much
outward,
as to heed
What seems
within,
to
want,
or to
exceed.
Whether our Emblem's
Author,
thought of this,
You need not care; nor, will it be amiss,
If they who perfect
Lovers,
would be thought,
Do mind, what by this
Moral,
they are taught.
Where
many-Forces
joined are,
Vnconquerable-power,
is there
[illustration]
CONCORDIA INSUPERABILIS.
ILLVSTR. XLV. Book. 3
A
N
Emblem's
meaning, here, I thought to conster;
And, this doth rather fashion out a
Monster,
Then form an
Hieroglyphic:
but, I had
These
Figures
(as you see them) ready made
By others; and, I mean to
morallize
Their Fancies; not to mend what they devise.
Yet, peradventure, with some vulgar praise,
This
Picture
(though I like it not) displays
The
Moral,
which the
Motto
doth imply;
And, thus, it may be said to signify.
He, that hath many
Faculties,
or
Friends,
To keep him safe (or to acquire his ends)
And, fits them so; and, keeps them so together,
That, still, as readily, they aid each other,
As if so many
Hands,
they had been made;
And, in
One-body,
useful being had:
That man, by their Assistance, may, at length,
Attaine to an
unconquerable strength
;
And, crown his honest
Hopes,
with whatsoever
He seeks for, by a warranted Endeavor.
Or, else, it might be said; that, when we may
Make our
Affections,
and, our
Sense,
obey
The will of
Reason,
(and, so well agree,
That, we may find them, still, at peace to be)
They'l guard us, like so many
Armed hands
;
And, safely keep us, whatsoever withstands.
If others think this
Figure,
here, infers
A better sense; let those
Interpreters
Vnriddle it; and, preach it where they please:
Their
Meanings
may be good, and so are these.
The
Hearts
of
Kings
are in
God's
Hands;
And, as He lists, He Them commands.
[illustration]
IN MANU DEI COR REGIS.
ILLVSTR. XLVI. Book. 3
W
Hy do men grudge at those, who raised be,
By royal Favor, from a low degree?
Know this▪
He should be honor'd, whom the King,
To place of Dignity,
shall please to bring.
Why should they blame their
Kings,
for fav'ring such,
Whom, they have thought, scarce meriting so much?
God rules their Hearts; and, they, themselves deceive,
Who dream, that Kings exalt, without God's leave.
Why murmur they at
God,
for guiding so
The Hearts of
Kings,
as oft they see him do?
Or, at his
Works,
why should they take offense,
As if their
Wit,
could teach his
Providence?
His just, and his all-seeing
Wisdom
knows,
Both
whom,
and
why
he crowns, or overthrows
;
And,
for what cause,
the Hearts of
Princes,
be
Inlarg'd,
or
shut;
when we no cause can see
;
We sometime know, what's
well,
and what's
amiss
;
But, of those
Truths,
the root concealed is;
And, False-hoods, and Uncertainties, there are,
In most of those things, which we
speak,
or
hear.
Then, were not
Kings
directed by
God's
hand,
They, who are best, and wisest in the Land,
Might oft misguide them, either by receiving
A
False report,
or, by some
wrong-believing.
God's
Grace
it is, that
Good-men
rays'd have been:
If
Sinners
flourish, we may thank our
Sin.
Both
Good
and
Bad,
so like in
out-sides
be,
That,
Kings
may be deceived, in what they see;
And, if
God
had not ruled their
Hearts
aright,
The
World,
by this time, had been ruined quite.
A
Virtue
hidden, or not used,
Is either
Sloth,
or
Grace
abused.
[illustration]
CELATA VIRTUS IGNAVIA EST.
ILLVSTR. XLVII. Book. 3
T
He World hath shameless
Boasters,
who pretend,
In sundry matters, to be skilled so well,
That, were they pleased, so their hours to spend,
They say, they could in many things excel.
But, though they make their hearers to believe,
That, out of
Modestie
their
Gifts
they hide,
In them we very plainly may perceive,
Or
Sloth,
or
Envy, Ignorance,
or
Pride.
When other men's endeavors they peruse,
They either carpe at what they cannot mend;
Or else of Arrogance do those accuse,
Who, to the public view, their
Works
commend.
If these men say, that they can
Poetize,
But, will not; they are false in saying so:
For, he whose
Wit
a little that way lies,
Will
doing
be, though he himself
undo.
If they, in other
Faculties
are learned,
And, still, forbear their
Talents
to employ;
The truest
Knowledge,
yet, is undiscerned,
And, that, they merit not, which they enjoy.
Yea, such as hide the
Gifts
they have received,
(Or use them not, as well as they are able)
Are like
fair Eyes,
of useful sight bereaved;
Or,
lighted-Candles,
underneath a
Table.
Their glorioust part, is but a
Painted clothe,
Whose
Figures,
to the wall-ward, still are hung▪
Their hidden
Virtues,
are apparent
Sloth
;
And, all their life, is to the public wrong:
For, they do re
•
pe the
Fruits,
by many sown,
And, leave to others, nothing of their own.
The
Moon,
which is
decreasing
now,
When she
returns,
will
fuller,
grow.
[illustration]
REDIBO PLENIOR.
ILLVSTR. XLVIII. Book. 3
I
Never, yet, did murmuringly complain,
Although those
Moons
have long been in the
Waine,
Which on their
Silver Shields,
my
Elders
wore,
In
Battels,
and in
Triumphs,
heretofore.
Nor any mention have I ever made,
Of such
Eclipses,
as those
Crescents
had;
Thereby, to move some
Comet,
to reflect
His
fading-light,
or deign his
good aspect.
For, when I tell the
World,
how ill I fare,
I tell her too, how little I do care,
For her
despights:
yea, and I tell it not,
That, help, or pity, might from her be got;
But, rather, that her
Favorites
may see,
I know my
Waynings,
yet, can pleased be.
My
Light,
is from the Planet of the
Sun
;
And, though the
Course,
which I obliquely run,
Oft brings my outward
Fortunes
to the
Waine,
My
Light
shall, one day, be renewed again.
Yea, though to some, I quite may seem to lose
My
Light
; because, my follies interpose
Their shadows to eclipse it: yet, I know,
My
Crescents,
will increase, and
fuller,
grow.
As soon as in the
Flesh,
I being had,
I moved on in
Courses retrograde,
And, thereby lost my
Splendor:
but, I feel
Soft motions, from that great
Eternal Wheel,
Which moveth all things, sweetly moving me,
To gain the
Place,
in which I ought to be:
And, when to
Him,
I back
return,
from
whom
At first I came, I shall at
Full
become.
Be wary,
wheresoo're,
thou be:
For, from
deceit,
no
place
is free.
[illustration]
NUSQUAM TUTA FIDES.
ILLVSTR. XLIX. Book. 3
S
Ome write (but, on what grounds, I cannot tell)
That they, who near unto the
Deserts
dwell,
Where
Elephants
are found, do notice take,
What trees they haunt, their sleeping-stocks to make;
That, when they rest against an half-sawne stem,
It (falling) may betray those Beasts to them.
Now, though the part
Historical,
may err,
The
Moral,
which this
Emblem
doth infer,
Is overtrue; and, seemeth to imply,
The
World
to be so full of Treacherie,
As, that, no corner of it, found can be,
In which, from Falshoods Engines, we are free.
I have observed the
City
; and, I find
The
Citizens,
are civil, grave and kind;
Yet, many are deluded by their shows,
And, cheated, when they trust in them repose.
I have been oft at
Court
; where I have spent,
Some idle time, to hear them
Complement:
But, I have seen in
Courtiers,
such deceit,
That, for their Favors, I could never wait.
I do frequent the
Church
; and, I have heard
God's judgments, by the
Preachers,
there, declared,
Against men's falsehoods; and, I gladly hear
Their zealous
Prayers,
and good
Counsels
there;
But, as I live, I find some such as they,
Will watch to do a mischief, if they may.
Nay, those poor sneaking
Clownes,
who seek their living,
As if they knew no manner of deceiving;
Even
those,
their
wits,
can (this way) so apply,
That, they'll soon cozen, wiser men, than I.
This
Day,
my
Houre-glass,
forth is run;
Thy
Torch,
to
Morrow,
may be done.
[illustration]
HODIE MIHI CRAS TIBI.
ILLVSTR. L. Book 3
T
Here is no Day, nor minute of the Day,
In which, there are not ma
•
y sent away
From
Life
to
Death
; or, many
drawing on,
Which, must within a little while be gone.
You, often, view the
Grave
; you, often, meet
The
Buriers,
and the
Mourners,
in the street,
Conveying of some Neighbor,
•
o that home,
Which must, e're long, your
dwelling-place
become.
You see the
Race,
of many a youthful
Son
Is finished, e're his
Father's
Course is done;
And, that the hand of
Death,
regardeth neither
Sexe, Youth, nor Age; but, mingleth all together.
You, many times, in your own houses, hear
The groa
•
es of
Death,
and view your
Children,
there,
Your lov
•
ng
Parents,
or, beloved
Wives,
To gasp for breath, and, labor for their
lives.
Nay, you yourselves, do sometime find the pains
Of
Sickness,
in your
Bowels,
and your Vaines,
The
Harbingers
of
Death,
sometime, begin
To take up your whole
Body,
for their
Inn.
You bear their heavy
Aches,
on your back;
You feel their
twinges,
make your heart strings crack;
And, sometime, lie imprisoned, and half dead,
With
Age,
or with
Diseases,
on your bed:
Yet you defer your ends; and, still contrive,
For temp'rall things; as if you thought to live
Six
Ages
longer: or had quite forgot,
That, you, and others, draw one
common-Lot.
But, that, you might not, still, the same forget,
This
Emblem,
and this
Motto,
here were set.
Finis libri tertij.
THE THIRD LOTTERIE.
1
T
He
Wreathes
of GLORY, you affect,
But,
means
to gain them, you neglect;
And, (though in
doing,
you delight)
You
do
not, always, what is
right:
Nor are you grown, as yet, so wise,
To know, to whom the richest
Prize
Doth appertain; nor what it is.
2
Though you are
weak,
you much may do,
If you will set your
Wits
thereto.
For, meaner
Powres,
than you have had,
And, meaner
Wits,
good shift have made,
Both to contrive, and compass that,
Which abler men have wondered at.
Your
Strength,
and
Wit,
unite, therefore,
3
Perhaps, thou mayst be one of them,
Who, Civil
Magistrates
contemn;
And slighteth, or else, flouteth at
The
Ceremonies
of E
••
ate.
That,
•
hou may
•
, therefore, learn to get,
Both better
Manners,
and more
Wit,
The
Sword,
and
Mace,
(by some despiz'd)
4
By this thy
Lot,
we may misdoubt,
Thou look'st not warily about;
But, hudlest onward, without heed,
What went
before,
or may
succeed
;
Procuring loss, or discontent,
Which,
Circumspection,
might prevent.
Therefore, with gratefulness, receive
5
Thou hast, unworthily, repin'd,
Or, been displeased in thy mind,
Because, thy
Fortunes
do not seem
To fit thy
Worth
(in thy esteem:)
And loe, to check thy discontent,
Thy
Lot,
a
Moral,
doth present;
And shows, that, if thou
virtuous
be,
6
When thy Desires have good success,
Thine own
Endeavors,
thou dost bless;
But, seldom unto
God
thou givest
Due thanks, for that, which thou receive'st.
Thine
Emblem,
therefore, tells from whom
The fruits of good
Endeavors,
come:
And, shows (if thou to thrive intend)
7
It may be, thou art one of those,
Whose
Faith,
more
bold,
than
fruitful
grows;
And (building on some false
Decree
)
Disheartnest those, that
Workers
be
To gain (with
awful-joy
) that
Prize,
Which, unto no man,
God
denies,
That works in
Hope
; and, lives by
Faith.
8
Thou hast been willing, that thy
Name,
Should live the life of
Honest-Fame
;
And, that, thy
labors
(to thy praise)
Continue might, in future days.
Behold; the
Lot,
thou hapnest on,
Hath shown, how this may well be done.
Pursue the
Course,
which there is taught,
9
Thou, many things, hast well begun;
But, little, to good purpose, done:
Because, thou hast a fickle
brain,
And,
hands
that love to take no pain.
Therefore, it chanceth not amiss,
That, thou hast such a
Chance,
as this:
For, if thou want not
Grace,
or
Wit,
10
Whatev'r you seem to others, now,
It was the
Harrow,
and the
Plough,
By which, your
Predecessors
got,
The fairest portion of your
Lot:
And, (that, it may increase your
Wit
)
They haunt you, in an
Emblem,
yet.
Peruse our
Moral
; and, perchance,
11
Much labor, and much time you spend,
To get an able-constant
Friend:
But, you have ever sought him, there,
Where, no such precious
Jewels
are:
For, you,
without
have searching been,
To find, what must be found
within.
This
Friend,
is mentioned by this
Lot,
12
Thou seek'st for
Fame
; and, now art shown,
For what, her
Trumpet
shall be blown.
Thine
Emblem,
also, doth declare,
What
Fame
they get, who
virtuous
are,
For
Praise
alone; and, what
Reward,
For such like
Studies,
is prepared.
Peruse it; And, this
Counsel
take;
13
This
Lot,
those persons, always finds,
That have high
thoughts,
and lofty
minds
;
Or, such as have an itch to learn,
That, which doth nothing them concern;
Or, love to peep, with daring eyes,
Into forbidden
Mysteries.
If any one of these thou be,
14
If all be true, these
Lots
do tell us,
Thou shouldst be of those
Fidling-fellows,
Who, better practiced are grown,
In
others
matters, that their
own:
Or, one, that covets to be thought,
A man, that's ignorant of naught.
If it be so, thy
Moral
shows
15
Thou hast some
Charge,
(who e're thou be)
Which,
Tendance
may expect from thee:
And, well, perhaps, it may be feared,
It is often left, without regard:
Or, that, thou dost securely sleep,
When, thou shouldest watch, more strictly, keep.
Thou knowest best, if it be so:
16
In secret, thou dost oft complain,
That, thou hast
hoped,
and
wrought
in vain;
And, thinkest thy
Lot,
is far more hard,
Than what for others is prepared.
An
Emblem,
therefore, thou hast got,
To show, it is our
common-Lot,
To
work
and
hope
; and, that, thou hast
17
That thou hast
Honesty,
we grant;
But,
Prudence,
thou dost often want:
And, therefore, some have injured thee,
Who far more
Wise,
than
honest
be.
That, now,
Discretion
thou mayst add,
To those
good-meanings
thou hast had;
The
Moral
of thine
Emblem,
view;
18
To your
Long-home,
you nearer are,
Than you (it may be) are aware:
Yea, and more easy is the
Way,
Than you, perchance, conceive it may.
Lest, therefore,
Death,
should grim appear,
And, put you in a causeless fear;
(Or out of minding wholly pass)
19
In slippery
Paths,
you are to go;
Yea, they are full of danger too:
And, if you heedful should not grow,
They'l hazard much, your overthrow.
But, you the mischief may eschew,
If wholesome Counsel, you pursue.
Look, therefore, what you may be taught,
20
This present
Lot,
concerns full near,
Not you alone, but all men here;
For, all of us, too little heed
His
love,
who for our sakes, did
bleed.
It is true, that
means,
he left behind him,
Which better teacheth how to mind him:
Yet, if we both by
that,
and
th
••
,
21
It is hoped, you just, and pious are,
More out of
Conscience,
than for fear;
And, that you will virtuous courses take,
For
Goodness,
and for
Virtue-sake.
Yet, since the best men, sometimes may
Have need of helps, in
virtues
way,
Those useful
Moralls,
sleight you not,
22
This
Lot
pertaineth unto those,
(And who they be,
God
only knows)
Who, to the world, have no desire;
But, up to heavenly things aspire.
No doubt, but you, in some degree,
Indow'd with such
Affections
be;
And, had this
Emblem,
that you might
23
The state of
Temp'rall
things to show,
Ye have them, still, within your view;
For, every object that we see,
An
Emblem,
of them, serves to be,
But, we from few things, helps do find,
To keep
Eternity
in mind.
This
Lot,
an
Emblem
brings, therefore,
24
Unless you better look thereto,
Dis-use,
and
Sloth,
will you undo.
That, which of you despayred was.
With ease, might have been brought to pass,
Had but so much been done, as may
Be equal'd with
One Line a day.
Consider this; and, to that end,
M 25
If we mistake not, thou art one,
Who loves to court the
Rising-Sun
;
And, if this
Lot,
thy nature find,
Thou to
Preferment
hast a mind:
If so, learn hence, by whose respect
(Next God) thou mayst thy hopes effect:
Then, seek to win his grace to thee,
26
Thou to a
double-path
art come;
And, peradventure, troublesome,
Thou findest it, for thee to know,
On whether hand thou oughtst to go.
To put thee out of all suspect,
Of
Courses
that are indirect;
Thy
Moral
points thee to a path,
27
You warned are of taking heed,
That, never, you your
Bounds
exceed;
And, also, that you be not found,
To come within your Neighbors
Bound.
There may be some concealed Cause,
That, none but you, this
Emblem
draws.
Examine it; And, If you see
28
Your
Emblems
moral doth declare,
When,
Lovers
fitly matched are;
And, what the chiefest cause may be,
Why,
Friends
and
Lovers
disagree.
Perhaps, you somewhat thence, may learn,
Which your
Affection
doth concern.
But, if it
Counsel
you too late,
M 29
Some, urge their
Princes
on to
War,
And weary of sweet
Peace,
they are.
Some, seek to make them, dote on
Peace.
(Till public Danger more increase)
As if the World were kept in awe,
By nothing else but preaching
Law.
Thy
Moral
(if of those thou art)
30
It is feared, thou dost less esteem,
Vpright
to
be,
than so to
seem
;
And, if thine actions, fair
appear,
Thou carest not how soul they
are.
Though this be not thy fault alone,
Yet have a care of mending
One:
And, study thou,
Vpright
to grow,
31
Some, all their
time,
and
wealth
have spent,
In giving other men content;
And, would not grudge to waste their
Blood,
To help advance the
Common-good.
To such as these, you have been thought,
Not half so friendly as you ought.
This
Lot
therefore befalls, to show,
32
You have been tempted (by your leave)
In hope of
Lucre,
to deceive:
But, much, as yet, you have not swerv'd
From
Faith,
which ought to be observed.
If well, hereafter, you would speed,
In
dealing-honestly,
proceed:
For, by your
Emblem,
you shall see,
33
We hope, no person, here, believes,
That, you are of those wealthy
Thieves,
Who,
Chaines
of gold, and pearl do wear,
And, of those
Thieves,
that, none you are,
Which wears a
Rope,
we, plainly see;
For, you, as yet
unchanged
be:
But, unto God, for
Mercy
cry,
34
You, willing are, to put away,
The thinking on your
Latter-day:
You count the mention of it,
Folly
;
A means of breeding
Melancholy
;
And, news unfit for men to hear,
Before they come to
sixty-year.
But, mind what Counsels now are sent,
35
Your
Wits,
your
Wishes,
and your
Tongue,
Have run the
Wild gross-chase,
too long;
And (left all Reason, you exceed)
Of
Rules,
and
Beines,
you now have need.
A
Bridle,
therefore, and a
Square,
Prime
Figures,
in your
Emblem,
are.
Observe their
Moral,
and I pray,
36
Because her
Ayd
makes goodly shows,
You, on the
World,
your trust repose;
And, his
dependence,
you despise,
Who, merely, on
God's
help, relies.
That, therefore, you may come to see,
How pleased, and safe, those men may be,
Who have no aid, but
God,
alone;
37
Some, think your
Virtue
very much;
And, there is cause to think it such:
For, many ways it hath been tried;
And, well the
Trial
doth abide,
Yet, think not, but some
brants
there are,
Which, your own
strength
shall never bear.
And, by the
Moral
of your
Lot,
38
Thou hast been grieved, and complained,
Because, the
Truth
hath wrong sustained.
But, that, dismayd thou shouldst not be,
Thine
Emblem
will declare to thee,
That, though the
Truth
may suffer spite,
It shall not be depressed quite;
But, by opposing, spread the more,
39
By
Rashness,
thou hast often erred,
Or, else, thou hadst been more prefer'd.
But, future errors, to prevent,
Thou to the slow pac'd
Ox
art sent,
To learn more
Slaydnesse
; and, to do
Thy
Works,
with
Perseverance,
too.
He that this creatures
Virtue
scorns,
40
Dame
Fortunes
favor seems to be
Much loved, and longed for, of thee;
As if, in what, her hand bestows,
Thou mightest thy confidence repose.
But, that, her
manners
may be known,
This
Chance,
upon thee, was bestowne.
Consider well, what thou hast got,
41
The
Steele
and
Flint,
declare, in part,
The Temper of a
Stony-heart
;
And, show, that thence, no
Virtue
flows,
Till it be forced out, with blows.
Some other,
Moralls
thou mayest learn,
Thereby, which will thy
good,
concern:
Mark, therefore, what they do declare,
42
Thou thinkest thy
Witt,
had made thee great,
Had
Poverty
not been some
let:
But, had thy
Wealth
as ample been,
As, thou thy
Witt,
didst overweene;
Insteed of thy desired
Height,
Perhaps, thou hadst been ruined quite.
Hereafter, therefore, be content,
43
To
Discord,
thou art somewhat prone,
And, thinkest thou mayst subsist alone;
Regarding not how safe they bide,
〈◊〉
last, in
Concords
bands, are tide.
〈◊〉
that thou mayst the better heed,
What
Good,
from
Union
doth proceed,
An
Emblem
is become thy
Lot,
44
Thou wouldst be loved; and, to that end,
Thou dost both
Time,
and
Labor
spend:
But, thou expect'st (as we believe)
More
Love,
than thou dost mean to give.
If so, thou, then, art much to blame:
For,
Love
affects a
muturall-flame
;
Which, if it fail on either side,
45
If all your
pow'rs,
you should unite,
Prevaile in your Desires, you might:
And, sooner should effect your ends,
If you should muster up your
Friends.
But, since your
Genius
doth suspect,
That, you such
Policy
neglect,
Your
Lot
presenteth to your view
46
Because, thou mayst be one of them,
Who dare the deeds of
Kings
condemn;
(As if such eyes as theirs and yours
Could view the depth of
Sovereign pow'rs
;
Or, see, how in each
Time,
and
Place,
God
rules their hearts, in every case.)
To check thy sauciness, in this,
47
Of many goodly parts thou vauntst;
And, much thou hast, though much thou wantest:
But, well it were, that, less, thou hadst,
Unless more use thereof thou madest.
That, therefore, thou mightest come to see,
How vain
unpractiz'd virtues
be,
Peruse thine
Emblem,
and, from thence,
48
By this thy
Lot,
it may appear,
Decayd thy
Hopes,
or
Fortunes
are.
But, that, thou mayst no courage lose,
Thine
Emblem,
by example, shows,
That, as the
Moon
doth from the
Waine
Return, and fill her
Orbe
again:
So, thou thy
Fortunes
mayst renew,
49
Some
Foes,
for thee, do lie in wait,
Where thou suspectest no
Deceit
;
Yea, many a one, thy harm intends,
Whom thou dost hope will be thy
Friends:
Be therefore, heedful, whom to
trust
;
What
walk
thou take'st, and what thou
dost
;
For, by thine
Emblem,
thou shalt see,
50
It seems, by drawing of this
Lot,
The day of
Death,
is much forgot;
And, that, thou needest a faithful
Friend,
To mind thee of thy
latter-end.
Vnheeded, therefore, pass not by,
What now thine
Emblem
doth imply;
So, thou shalt hear (without affright)
51
Thou seek'st by fickle
Chance,
to gain,
What thou by
Virtue
mightest attain.
Endeavor well, and, nothing shall
To thee, unfortunately fall:
For, every variable
Chance,
Thy firm contentment, shall advance.
But, if thou, yet, remain in doubt,
Turn
Fortunes-wheel,
once more, about.
52
Thy
Lot,
no Answer will bestow,
To that, which thou desir'st to know;
Nor canst thou, here, an
Emblem
find,
Which to thy purpose is inclinde.
Perhaps, it is too late to crave,
What thou desirest, now to have:
Or, but in vain, to mention that,
Which thy
Ambition
aimeth at.
Then, take it not in evil part,
That, with a
Blanck,
thou answered art.
53
Although you now refused not,
To try the
Fortune
of your
Lot
;
Yet, you, perhaps, unwilling are,
This company the same should hear,
Lest, some ha
•
sh
Moral
should unfold
Such tricks, as you could wish untold.
But, loe, you need not stand in awe;
For, 'tis a
Blanck,
which now you draw.
54
It proves a
Blanck
; for, to what end,
Should we a serious
Moral
spend,
Where,
teachings, warnings,
and
advise,
Esteemed are of little price?
Your only purpose, is to look
Upon the
Pictures
of this
Book;
When, more discretion you have got,
An
Emblem
shall attend your
Lot.
55
You might have drawn an
Emblem,
here,
In which your
manners
pictured were:
But, some will vex, when they shall see
Themselves, so painted out to be,
And, blame this
Book
as if it had
By some unlawful
Art
been made:
(Or, was contrived, that, to their shame,
Men, on themselves, might
L
•
bells
frame)
And, lest you may be so unwise,
Your
Lot,
an
Emblem,
now, denies.
56
Because,
Good Chances,
others drew,
To try these
Lots,
it pleased you.
But, had you such an
Emblem
found,
As fits you rightly, you had froun'd;
Or,
inwardly,
you would have
chase,
Although you
outwardly
had laughed.
You, therefore, very glad may be,
This proves a
Blanck
; and, so may we.
FINIS.
A COLLECTION OF EMBLEMES, ANCIENT AND MODERNE: Quickened With METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS, both Moral and 〈◊〉 : And disposed into LOTTERIES,
That Jnstruction, and Good Counsel, may be furthered by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation.
By GEORGE WITHER.
The fourth Book.
[illustration]
LONDON,
Printed by AUGUSTINE MATHEWES. MDCXXXIV.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE PHILLIP, Earl of PEMBROOKE, and M • VNTGOMERIE, &c. Lord Chamberlain of the Houshould, Knight of the most honorable Order of the Garter, and one of his Majesty's most Honorable Privy-Council.
My Honorable LORD,
THough,
Worthlesse
in my own repute I am;
And, (though my
Fortune,
so obscures my Name
Beneath my
Hopes
; that, now, it makes me seem
As little worth, in other men's esteem,
As in mine own;) yet, when my
Merits
were
No better, than, to most, they now appear,
It pleased some, even some of those that had
The
Noblest Names,
(and, those of whom was made
The best Account) so lowly to descend,
As, my well-meaning
Studies,
to befriend.
Among those WORTHIES, I may both bemoan
(My self in HIM) and memorize, for
One,
Your much renowned BROTHER, as a
Chief
In bri
•
ging to my waned
Hopes,
relief;
And, in my
Faculties,
were I as able
To honor
Him,
as he was honorable,
I would have shown, how, all this
Emperie
Hath lost a
Friend,
in HIM, as much as I.
To MEE, so freely, of his own accord
It pleased HIM, his
Favors,
to afford;
That, when our learned, and late
Sovereign-Prince,
(By others mis-informed) took offense
At my Free
Lines
; HEE, foun'd such
Means
and
Place
To bring, and reconcile me to his
Grace
;
That, therewithal, his
Majesty
bestowed
A Gift upon me, which his
Bounty
showed:
And, had enrich'd me; if, what was intended,
Had not, by othersome, been ill befriended.
But, as I long time, suffered have by those
Who labor'd much, my thrivings, to oppose:
So,
I myself,
(although not out of pride,
As many think it) have so much relide
Upon the
Royal-Gift,
neglecting so
To fortify the same, as others do
By making Friends; that my estate grew less
(By more than twice five hundred Marks decrease)
Through that, which for, my profit was bestowne.
And, I, ere this, had wholly been undone;
But, that the
Wealth,
which I rely on, most,
Consists in things, which never can be lost.
Yet, by this
Loss,
I have
Occasions
had
To feel, why other men are often sad.
And, I, (who blushed, to be troublesome
To any Friend) thereby, almost am come
To such a pass; that, what I wish to have,
I should grow impudent enough to
Crave,
Had not impartial
Death,
and wasting
Time,
Of all my Friends quite worn away the
Prime
;
And, left me none, to whom I dare present
The meanest suite withom encouragement:
Although, the greatest
Boone,
I would implore,
Should cost them, but a
Word,
or little more.
Yet, some there are, no doubt, for whose respect
I might endeavor, with no vain effect;
Had I but cause, to have as high esteem,
Of mine own
Merits,
as I have of them.
And, if your
Honor
should be so inclined,
As I desire; I, now am sure to find
Another
Pembroke,
by whose aid sustained,
I may preserve, what by the
Last
I gained.
To make adventure, how it will succeed,
I now am come. And lo, my LORD, instead
Of better
Advocates,
I first begin,
Mine EMBLEMS, by these
Lines,
to Usher in;
That,
they,
by their admittance may effect
For
Mee,
and for
themselves,
your kind respect.
That, which in
them,
best Worthy you shall find,
Is this; that, they are Symptoms of a
Mind,
Affecting honesty: and of a
Heart,
So truly honoring a true desert,
That, I am hopeful made, they will acquire
As much respect as I can well desire:
And, SIR, your
Candor,
your known
Courtesies,
With other praisefull
Virtues,
make me rise
To this Beliefe; that, YOU by fav'ring me
Hereafter, may as highly honor'd be,
As by some former Bounties; and increase
My Future
Merit,
by your
Worthinesse.
However, what I
am
or shall be known
To
Be,
by
Your Deservings,
or mine
own,
You may command it; and, be sure to find
(Though false my
Fortunes
prove) a Faithful
Mind.
Thus, unfeignedly, professeth Your Honors truest Honourer, GEO: WITHER.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, HENRIE, Earl of HOLLAND, &c. Captain of the Guard; Lord-chief-Justice in Eyre of all his Majesty's Forrests, Parkes and Chases on this side Trent; Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and one of his Majesty's most Honorable Privy Counsel.
Right Noble SIR,
HAving, of late, some
Cause,
to overlook
That thankful
Register,
wherein I book
My noblest
Friends;
I found so many
Names
Possessing nothing, but their honor'd
Fames,
(Whose
living Persons,
we enjoyed, here,
A while ago;) that, I began to fear,
I might grow
Friendlesse;
(having now so few)
Unless I sought, their
Number
to renew.
By some
Disasters,
also, gaining proof,
How much this
Course
would make for my behoove;
I called my
Wits
to Counsel,
Where,
and
How
I might, with hopefulnesse, begin to sow
The seeds of such
a Blessing:
And, me thought
Within me,
something said:
Where should be sought
What thou so gladly wouldst renewed find,
But, from some BRANCHES of the self-same kind;
Whose fair Aspects may seem to promise fruit,
According to the Virtues of the
Roote?
As soon as Fancie had informed me so,
Your
Lordship,
came to my remembrance, too,
With what our
Sovereign's
Favor,
Vulgar Fame,
Or, your own
Merits,
addeth to your
Name.
Which, having weighed, no doubts at all I had
Of
Worth
in
YOU;
But, rather, doubtings made
That, all my
Wits
would insufficient be,
To make that
Worth,
become a
Friend
to me.
For, I have oft observed, that,
Favor
shuns
The best
Desert,
if after
her,
it runs.
Yet,
who can tell what may befall? thought I:
It is no great
Adventure,
if I try
Without success: And, if, I gain my
End,
I am assured of
a Noble-Friend.
His honorable FATHER, deemed me worth
So much respecting as to seek me forth,
When, I was more
Obscure:
And, MEE, for naught
〈…〉
to
Befriend me,
forth HEE sought.
〈◊〉
wherefore, of his SONNE, should I suspect
〈◊〉
seeking HIM) he can my love reject?
〈◊〉
Cou
•
tesie
doth always, there, abound,
〈◊〉
such a lovely
Personage
is found?
My LORD, these were my
Fancies:
But I take them
To be of no more worth, than, you shall make them
By your
Acceptance:
Nor, isit my intent
To Court you, with a fruitless
Complement:
But, to attempt your
Favor
with a mind,
As readily, and really, inclinde
To
serve
you, when my services may steed;
As to expect your Favors, in my need.
For, had my
Fates
enabled me so much,
I should more willingly have sought out such
On whom I Courtesies might have bestowne,
Than, seek to cure
Misfortunes
of mine
own.
No doubt, but, every day, your
Lordship
hears
Inventions,
which may better please your ears
Than these I now present; And, yet you might
(For ought I knew) find profit, or delight,
By our plain EMBLEMS, or some
uses
in them,
Which from your
Honor,
some respects may win them;
Even for that good
Moralitie,
which they
To Vulgar Vnderstandings will convey.
But, Truth to speak, the chiefest cause which drew
My mind, to make them PRESENTS, for your view,
Was, but to take
Occasion
to profess,
That, I am
Servant,
to your WORTHINESSE.
In which, if YOU are pleased; All is got
At which I aim'd: And, though you like it not,
It shall but teach Mee (for the time to come)
To take more heed, where I am troublesome.
And, I shall be, nevertheless, your Honors to be commanded, as becometh your Servant, GEO: WITHER.
Whilst I, the
Sun's
bright Face may view,
I will no meaner
Light
pursue.
[illustration]
NON INFERIORA SECUTUS.
ILLVSTR. I. Book. 4
W
Hen, with a serious musing, I behold
The grateful, and obsequious
Marigold,
How duly, every morning, she displays
Her open breast, when
Titan
spreads his Rayes;
How she observes him in his daily walk,
Still bending towards him, her tender stalk;
How, when he down declines, she droopes and mourns,
Bedow'd (as 'twere) with tears, till he returns;
And, how the veils her
Flow'rs,
when he is gone,
As if she scorned to be looked on
By an inf
•
riour
Eye
; or, did contemn
To wait upon a meaner
Light,
then
Him.
When this I meditate, me-thinks, the
Flowers
Have
spirits,
far more generous, then ours;
And, give us fair Examples, to despise
The servile Fawnings, and Idolatries,
Wherewith, we court these earthly things below,
Which merit not the service we bestow.
But, oh my God! though groveling I appear
Upon the Ground, (and have a rooting here,
Which hales me downward) yet in my desire,
To that, which is above me, I aspire:
And, all my best
Affections
I profess
To
Him,
that is the
Sun of Righteousness.
Oh! keep the
Morning
of his
Incarnation,
The burning
Noone-tide
of his bitter
Passion,
The
Night
of his
Descending,
and the
Height
Of his
Ascension,
ever in my sight:
That imitating him, in what I may,
I never follow an inferior
Way.
The
Earth
is God's, and in his Hands
Are all the
Corners
of the Lands.
[illustration]
IN MANU DOMINI OMNES SUNT FINES TERRAE.
ILLVSTR. II. Book. 4
L
Ong since, the sacred
Hebrew Lyrick
said,
(A Truth, which never justly was denayd)
That,
All the world is God's
; and that his
hands
Enclose the limits of the farthest
Lands.
The self same
Truth
affirms, that likewise, there,
By him, their
clodds,
and
furrows
watered are,
And, that with
dew
and
showers,
he doth so bless
The dwellings of the barren
Wilderness,
That, those Inhabitants (whom some conceived,
Of useful, and all pleasant things bereaved)
Their labors, with advantage, do employ,
And, fetch their yearly
Harvests
home, with joy.
Why then should we, that in God's
Vineyard
live,
Distrust that all things needful he will give?
Why should his
Garden
doubt of what it needs,
Since he oft waters barren
Rocks
and
Weeds?
Why should his
Children,
live in slavish fear,
Since he is kind to those that strangers are?
Or, whither from his presence, can we fly,
To whom the furthest
hiding-place
is nigh.
And, if I may, from lower objects clime,
(To questioning, in matters more sublime)
Why should I think, the
Soul
shall not be fed,
Where God affords, to
Flesh,
her
daily Bread?
Or, dream, that he, for some, provided none,
Because, on us, much
Mercy
is bestowne?
'It is true enough, that
Hell
devoureth all,
Who shall be found without the
Churches
pale;
But, how far that extends, no Eye can see,
Since,
in God's hands, Earth's farthest Corners be.
By seeming other than thou art,
Thou dost perform a foolish part.
[illustration]
QUOD NON ES NE VIDEARE CAVE.
ILLVSTR. III. Book. 4
T
He World is much for
Shewes,
and few there are
So diligent to
be,
as to
appear
;
Although a little travail more, would make them
Those men, for which, the
lookers on
mistake them.
Some, have so toiled, and consumed so much,
To get a false repute of being
Rich,
That, they have spent far more, than would have bought,
The
substance
of the
shadow,
they have sought;
And, caused those, who deemed them rich before,
To know them, to be miserably
poor.
Some others, would so fain be counted
Wise,
That, they consume in
Curiosities,
In
Sophistries,
and superficial
shows,
More precious Time, than would have made them those,
They long to seem, (had half that means been spent,
In seeking
Wisdom,
with a pure intent)
Whereas, the glorioust purchases of such,
(Though by their Peers they seem applauded much)
Are still so vain, that little they possess,
But fruitless
leaves,
of
learned foolishness:
Yea, by affecting more than is their due,
They lose even both the
substance,
and the
show
;
And, so, instead of honors
Crown,
have worn
The
Coxcombes,
of a well-deserved scorn.
But, of all
Fooleries,
the grossest
Folly
Is theirs, who wear those
garbes
of
seeming-holy,
Which pain them sore, yet make them still appear,
To
God
and
Men,
as wicked as they are.
Be, therefore, what, to be, thou hast professed;
But, be not of this last, of all the rest.
Pursue thy
Works,
without delay,
For, thy short
hours
run fast away.
[illustration]
FESTINAT DECURRERE.
ILLVSTR. IIII. Book. 4
T
Hough this be but the picture of that
Glass,
By which thou measur'st how thine
hours
do pass.
Yet, sleight it not; for, much 'twill profit thee,
To ponder what the
Morals
of it be.
And, 'tis an
Emblem,
whence the
Wise
may learn,
That, which their persons, nearly doth concern.
The brittle
Glass,
serves fitly to express
The
Body's
frailty, and much crasinesse.
Four
Pillars,
which the glassie work empale,
Instruct thee, that the
Virtues
Cardinal,
To guard the
Manhood,
should be still employed,
Lest else the feeble fabric be destroyed.
The
Sand,
still running forth, without delay,
Doth show, that
Life-time,
passeth fast away,
And, makes no stop: yea, and the
Motto
too,
(Lest thou forgetful prove) informs thee so.
By viewing this, Occasion, therefore, take,
Of thy fast-flying
Houres,
more use to make;
And, heedful be, to shun their common crime,
Who take much care to trifle out the time;
As if it merited their utmost pain,
To lose the gemme, which most they seek to gain.
Time-past
is lost already:
Time-to-come,
Belongs, as yet, thou knowest not unto whom.
The
present-hours
are thine, and, only those,
Of which thou hast
Commission
to dispose;
And, they from thee, do fly away so fast,
That, they are scarcely known, till they are past.
Lord, give me grace, to mind, and use
Time
so,
That, I may do thy
work,
before I go.
Repent, or God will break the thread,
By which▪ thy
doom
hangs over thy head.
[illustration]
ABRUMPAM.
ILLVSTR. V. Book. 4
M
Ark well this
Emblem
; and, (when in a
thread,
You see the
Globe,
there, hang above their head,
Who in security, beneath it sit)
Observe likewise, the
Knife,
that threatens it;
The smallness of the
Twine
; and, what a death
Would follow, should it fall on those beneath:
And (having well observed it) mind, I pray,
That, which the word about it, there, doth say:
For, it includes a
Caveat,
which we need
To entertain, with a continual heed.
Though few consider it, we find it thus
(Throughout our lives) with everyone of us.
Destruction
hangeth in a
single thread,
Directly over every
Sinner's
head.
That
Sentence
is gone forth, by which we stand
Condemn'd to suffered d
•
ath. The dreadful hand,
Of God's imp
•
rtiall
Justice,
holds à
Knife,
Still ready, to cut off our
thread of life
;
And, 'tis his
mercy,
that keeps up the
Ball
From falling, to the ruin of us all.
Oh! let us mind, how often we have been,
Even in the very act of
Deadly-sin,
Whilst this hung over us; and, let us praise,
And love him, who hath yet prolong'd our days:
Yea, let our thankfulness, bring forth such fruit,
As, to the benefit may somewhat suit:
For, though a
sudden Death
may not ensue,
Yet, (since
Times
Axe, doth every minute hew
The
Root of Life
) the Tree, e're long, must fall;
And, then perhaps, too late, repent we shall.
When
woe
is in ourselves begun,
Then, whither from it, can we run?
[illustration]
HINC DOLOR INDE FUGA.
ILLVSTR. VI. Book. 4
P
Oore
Hart,
why dost thou run so fast? and why,
Behind thee dost thou look, when thou dost fly?
As if thou seem'dst in thy swift flight, to hear
Those
dangers
following thee, w
ch
thou dost fear?
Alas! thou labor'st, and thou run'st in vain,
To shun, by
flight,
thy
terrors,
or thy
pain
;
For, loe, thy
Death,
which thou hast dreaded so,
Clings fast unto thee, wheresoere thou go:
And while thou toil'st, an
outward-ease
to win,
Thou draw'st thine own
destruction
further
in
;
Making that
Arrow,
which but pricks thy hide,
To pierce thy tender entrails, through thy side.
And, well I may this wounded
Hart
bemoan;
For, here, me thinks, I am taught to look upon
Mine own condition; and, in him, to see
Those deadly wounds, my
Sins
have made in me.
I greatly fear the
World,
may unawares
Intangle me, by her alluring snares:
I am afraid, the
Devil
may inject
Some poys'nous fume, my
Spirit
to infect,
With ghostly
Pestilence
; and, I assay,
To fly from these, with all the pow'rs I may.
But, oh my Flesh! this very
Flesh
I wear,
Is worse to me, than
Worlds,
and
Devils
are:
For, without this, no power on me, they had.
This is that
Skirt,
which made
Alcides
mad.
It is a
grief,
which I shall never cure,
Nor fly from, whilst my life-time doth endure:
From thence, oh
Lord,
my greatest
sorrows
be;
And, therefore, from my
Self,
I fly to
Thee.
When
Magistrates
confined are,
They revel, who were kept in fear.
[illustration]
CAPTIVUM IMPUNE LACES SUNT.
ILLVSTR. VII. Book. 4
A
Tyrannous, or wicked
Magistrate,
Is fitly represented by a
Catt
:
For, though the
Mice
a harmful vermin be,
And,
Cats
the remedy; yet, oft we see,
That, by the
Mice,
far less, some house-wives leese,
Then when they set the
Catt
to keep the
Cheese.
A ravenous
Cat,
will punish in the
Mouse,
The very same Offences, in the house,
Which he himself commits; yea, for that
Vice,
Which was his own (with praise) he kills the
Mice
;
And, spoileth not another's life alone,
Even for that very
fault
which was his
own,
But
feeds,
and
fattens,
in the spoil of them,
Whom he, without compassion did condemn.
Nay, worse than so; he cannot be content,
To slaughter them, who are as innocent,
As he
himself
; but, he must also play,
And sport his woeful
Pris'ners
lives away;
More torturing them, 'twixt fruitless
hopes
and
fears,
Than when their bowels, with his teeth he tears:
For, by much terror, and much cruelty,
He kills them, ten times over, e're they die,
When, such like
Magistrates
have rule obtained,
The best men wish their pour might be restrained:
But, they who shun enormities, through
Fear,
Are glad when
good-men
out of Office are.
Yea, whether
Governors
be good or bad,
Of their displacings
wicked-men
are glad;
And, when they see them brought into disgraces,
They boldly play the
Knaves
before their faces.
Loe, here is all, that he possessed,
Which once was
Victor
of the
East.
[illustration]
RESTAT DE VICTORE ORIENTIS.
ILLVSTR. VIII. Book. 4
W
Hen he, who by his conquering Arm, possessed
The rich, and spacious Empires of the
East,
Felt his approaching end; he bade them bear
A
Shirt
throughout his
Army,
on a
Spear,
Proclaiming, that of all his large estate,
No more was left him, then, but only that:
Perhaps intending, thereby, to express,
A sorrow for his wild
Ambitiousnesse
;
Or, hoping, by that
Spectacle,
to give
Some good
Instructions
unto those that live.
However, let it serve us, to declare,
How vain their toylings, and ambitions are,
Who rob themselves, and other men of rest,
For things that are so little while possessed.
And, if that powerful King, could nothing have,
That was of use, to carry to his
Grave,
(Of all his conquered
Kingdoms
) but, one
Shirt,
Or,
Winding sheet,
to hide his Royal dirt;
Why should we pinch, and scrape, and vext become,
To heap up Riches, for we know not whom?
Or, macerate the
Flesh,
by raising strife,
For more, than will be useful during life?
Nay, even for that, which sometimes shortens
breath,
And mak
•
s us, also, wretched after
Death.
Let me, oh God! my labor so employ,
That, I, a competency may enjoy.
I ask no more, than may
Lifes
want supply,
And, leave their aue to others, when I
die.
If this thou grant, (which nothing doubt I can)
None ever lived, or died a richer man.
When
Hopes,
quite frustrate were become,
The
Wither'd-branch
did freshly bloome.
[illustration]
INSPERATA FLORUIT.
ILLVSTR. IX. Book. 4
T
'is true, a
withered-branch
I am, and seem
To some, as void of
Hopes,
as of esteem;
For, in their judgments, I appear to be
A sapless
Bough,
quite broken from the Tree,
(Even such as that, in this our
Emblem,
here)
And, yet, I neither feel
Despair,
nor
Fear
;
For, I have seen (e're now) a little
Spray,
(Rent from her
Stem
) lie trodden by the way,
Three months together; which, when
Spring
drew on,
To take an unexpected Root begun;
(Yea, grew to be a Tree) and, growing, stood,
When those great
Groves,
were fell'd for firing-wood,
Which once had high esteem; and sprung unhurt,
While that poor
Branch,
lay slighted in the dirt.
Nay, I have seen such
twiggs,
afford them shade,
By whom they were the meanest shrippings made,
Of all the
Wood
; And, you may live to see,
(For ought yet known) some such event in me.
And, what if all who know me, see me dead,
Before those
hopes
begin to spring and spread?
Have therefore they that hate me, cause to boast,
As if mine expectations I had lost?
No sure: For, I, who by
Faith's
eyes have seen,
Old
Aaron's
withered
Rod,
grow fresh and green;
And also viewed (by the self-same
Eyes
)
Him,
whom that
Rod,
most rightly typifies,
Fall
by a shameful
Death,
and
rise,
in spite
Of
Death,
and
Shame,
unto the glorioust
height.
Even I, believe my
Hope
shall be possessed,
And, therefore, (even in
Death
) in
Hope
I will rest.
True
Virtue,
whatsoever betides,
In all
extremes,
unmoov'd abides.
[illustration]
NESCIT LABI VIRTUS.
ILLVSTR. X. Book. 4
W
Hen, in this
Emblem,
here, you have espide,
The shape of a triangled
Pyramide,
And, have observed well, those mighty
Rocks,
Whose firm foundation bides the dreadful shockes
Of
angry Neptune
; you may thereby see,
How firmly settled,
Virtues
real be.
For, as the raging
Seas,
although they roar,
Can make no breach upon the Rockie shore;
And, as a true triangled
Pyramide,
Stands fast, and shows alike, on every side:
So, howsoever
Fortune,
turns or winds,
Those men, which are indow'd with virtuous minds,
It is impossible, to drive them from
Those
Forms,
or
Stations,
which those minds become.
And, as the raging
Sea,
with foaming threats,
Against the
Rock
•
e-shore,
but vainly beats;
So,
Envy
shall in vain, loud blustrings make,
When virtuous resolutions they would shake.
For,
Virtue,
which receives an overthrow,
Was
Virtue,
not
indeed,
but in the
show.
So far am I, oh
Lord
! from laying claim
To have this
Virtue,
that, I do but aim
At such
perfection
; and, can come no nigher
As yet, than to obtain it in
desire.
But, fixe thou so, this weak desire of mine,
Upon the
Virtues
of thy
Rock
divine,
That
I,
and that invaluable
Stone,
May be incorporated into
One
:
And, then, it will be neither shame, nor pride,
To say, my
Virtues,
will unmov'd abide.
The
motion
of the
World,
this day,
Is moved the quite contrary way.
[illustration]
HODIE SIC VERTITVR ORBIS.
ILLVSTR. XI. Book. 4
W
Hat was this
Figures
meaning, but to show,
That, as these kind of
Shell-fish
backward go,
So now the
World,
(which here doth seem to take
An arseward Journey on the
Cancer's
back)
Moves counterwise; as if delight it had,
To run a race, in
Courses retrograde:
And, that, is very likely to be true,
Which, this our
Emblem,
purposeth to show.
For, I have now, of late, not only seen,
What backward motions, in my
Friends
have been;
And, that my outward
Fortunes
and
Affaires,
Do of themselves, come tumbling down the stairs:
But, I have also found, that other
things,
Have got a wheeling in contrary
Rings
;
Which
Regresse,
holding on, 'tis like that we,
To
Jews,
or
Ethnics,
back shall turned be.
Some punie
Cl
•
rkes,
presume that they can teach
The ancient holy
Doctors,
how to preach.
Some
Lucks,
learn their
Pastors
how to pray.
Some
Parents,
are compelled to obey
Their
Sons
; and, so their Dignity to lose,
As to be fed and clothed, at their dispose.
Nay, we have some, who have assay'd to draw,
All backward, to the
Bondage
of the
Law
;
Even to those abrogated
Rites
and
Days,
By, which, the wandering
Jew
marks out his ways.
And, to pursue this
Round,
they are so heady,
That, they have made themselves, and others giddy.
Do thou, these froward
Motions, LORD,
restrain
;
And, set the
World
in her due course again.
Invincibilitie
is there,
Where
Order, Strength,
and
Union
are.
[illustration]
VIS NESCIA VINCI.
ILLVSTR. XII, Book. 4
F
Rom these well-ordered
Arrows,
and the
Snake,
This useful Observation you may make;
That, where an able
Prudence,
doth combine
Vnited-forces,
by good
Discipline,
It maketh up a power, exempted from
The fear, or peril, to be
overcome
:
And, if you covet
safety,
you will seek
To know this
Ward,
and to acquire the like.
For, doubtless, neither is it in the force,
Of iron
Charets,
or of armed
Horse,
In which, the
King,
security may find,
Unless the Riders be well
Disciplinde.
Nor, lies it in the Soldiers common
Skill
In warlike
Postures
; nor in theirs, who drill
The
Rankes
and
Fyles,
to order them aright,
According as
Occasion
makes the
Fight.
But, men must use a further
Prudence
too,
Or else, those
vulgar-Arts
will all undo.
For, these, are only
Sciences
injoynd,
To order well the
Body,
not the
Mind:
And, men best trained in these (oft times) we see,
The
Hare-brain'dst-fools,
in all our
Armies
be.
To
strength,
and
skill,
unite we must, therefore,
A manly
Prudence,
comprehending more,
Than all these
Powr's
: even such, as when she please,
To all her ends, can use and manage these;
And, show us how to cure, or to prevent
All
Hazards
; or, withal to be content.
He that's thus armed, and trusts in
God
alone,
May be
opposed,
but,
conquered
of none.
When thou art shipwrecked in Estate,
Submit with patience, unto
Fate.
[illustration]
QUO FATA TRAHUNT.
ILLVSTR. XIII. Book. 4
W
Hen I beheld this Picture of a
Boat,
(Which on the raging
Waves
doth seem to float)
Forced onward, by the current of the Tide,
Without the help of
Anchor, Oare
or
Guide,
And, saw the
Motto
there, which doth imply,
That she commits her self to
Destinie
;
Me thinks, this
Emblem
sets out their estate,
Who have ascribed everything to
Fate
;
And dream, that howsoe're the business go,
Their
Work,
nor hinders, neither helps thereto.
The leaking
Ship,
they value as the sound:
He that's to hanging borne, shall never be drowned;
And, men to happiness ordained (say these)
May set their
Ship
to float, as
Fate
shall please.
This
Fancie,
springing from a mis-believing
Of God's
Decrees
; and, many men deceiving,
With shows of
Truth,
both causeth much offense
Against God's
Mercies,
and his
Providence
;
And brings to pass, that some to ruin run,
By their neglect of what they might have done.
For,
Means
is to be used, (if we desire,
The blessing of our safety to acquire)
Whose natural effects, if God deny,
Upon his
Providence
we must rely,
Still practicing what natural aids may be,
Until no likely aid untride we see.
And, when this
Non plus
we are forced unto,
Stand still,
we may, and wait what God will do.
He that shall thus to
Fate,
his fortunes leave,
Let me be ruined, if She him deceive.
The best, and fairest
House,
to me,
Is that, where best I love to be.
[illustration]
ΟΙΚΟΣ ΦΙΛΟΣ ΟΙΚΟΣ ΑΡΙΣΤΟΣ.
ILLVSTR. XIV. Book. 4
T
Hey are not
Houses
built large and high,
Seel'd all with
Gold,
and pav'd with
Porphyry,
Hung round with
Arras,
glaz'd with
Crystal-glass,
And covered over with plates of shining
Brasse,
Which are the best; but, rather, those where we
In
safety, health,
and best
content,
may be;
And, where we find, though in a mean Estate,
That portion, which maintains a quiet
Fate.
Here, in a homely
Cottage,
thatched with reed,
The
Peasant
seems as pleasedly to feed,
As he, that in his
Hall
or
Parlour
dines,
Which Fret-work Roofes, or costly Cedar Lines:
And, with the very same affections too,
Both to, and from it, he doth come and go.
The
Tortois,
doubtless, doth no house-room lack,
Although his
House
will cover but his back;
And, of his
Tub,
the
Cynicke
seemed as glad,
As
Alexander
was of all he had.
When I am settled in a place I love,
A shrubby
hedge-row,
seems a goodly
Grove.
My liking maketh
Palaces
of
Sheds,
And, of plain
Couches,
carved Ivory
Beds:
Yea, every
path,
and pathlesse
walk,
which lies
Contemn'd, as rude, or wild, in others eyes,
To me is pleasant; not alone in show,
But, truly such: For, liking makes them so.
As pleased in theirs, the
Snailes,
and
Cocles
dwell,
As doth a
Scallop
in his pearly shell:
For, that commends the
House,
which makes it fit,
To serve their turns, who should have use of it.
The
King,
his power from God receives:
For, he alone the
Scepter
gives.
[illustration]
DEUS DAT CUI VULT.
ILLVSTR. XV. Book. 4
T
He Gift of
Kingdoms, Children,
and
good-Wives,
Are three of God's most choice
Prerogatives,
In temp'rall Blessings; and, of all these three,
The gifts of
Kingdoms,
his rar'st Favors be:
For, in five hundred Millions, there's not one,
Whom this high
Honor
is confer'd upon;
Nor is there any known
Estate
on earth,
(Whereto we come, by
Merit,
or by
Birth
)
Which can, to any man assurance bring,
That, he shall either
live,
or
die
a
King.
The
Morning-Star,
that's Heir unto a
Crown,
Oft sets, before the
shining-Sun
is down;
And, some, that once a glorious
Empire
swayd,
Did lose their
Kingdoms,
e're their heads were laid.
The greatest earthly
Monarch
hath no pour,
To keep his Throne one minute of an hour,
(Use all the means, and policies he can)
If God will give it to another man.
He,
when
Belshazzar
was in high'st estate,
His
Kingdom
to the
Persians
did translate.
King
Saul,
and
Rehoboam,
could not stay
The
Royalties,
which God would give away;
And,
He
that was the proudest of the rest,
God, changed from a
King,
into a Beast.
Nor is there any man so mean, but he,
When God shall please, an
Emperor
may be.
Some, from the
Pot kill
•
e,
from the
Sheep cote,
some,
He raised hath, great
Princes
to become:
Yea, he over heaven and earth, hath reared his
Throne,
That was on earth, the most
despised one.
Her favors,
Fortune,
oft imparts,
To those that are of no deserts.
[illustration]
INDIGNUM FORTUNA FOVET.
ILLVSTR. XVI. Book. 4
W
Ould you not laugh, and think it beastly fine,
To see a durtie, and ill-favor'd
Swine,
Weare on her snout, a
Diamond,
or a
Pearl,
That might become the
Lady
of an
Earl?
And hold it head, as if it meant to show
It were the
Pigg
of some well-nurtured
Sow?
Perhaps, you think there be not anywhere
Such
Antics,
but in this our
Emblem
here.
But, if you take these
Charmes,
and then go forth
Among some troupes, which pass for folks of worth,
You shall discover, quickly, if you please,
A thousand sights, as mimicall as these.
Here, you shall see a noble
Title
worn,
(That had not mis-beseem'd one better borne)
By him, whose virtues are of little price,
And, whose estate, was gotten by his
Vice.
You shall behold another
Mushrome,
there,
Walk with our
Lord's,
as if he were their
Peer,
That was well known, to be but tother day,
No fit companion for such men as they;
And, had no other means to climb this height,
But
Gaming,
or to play the
Parasite.
Yet (though he neither hath his
Trade,
nor
Lands,
Nor any honest
In come,
by his
hands
)
He, oft consumes at once, in
Games
or
Cheare,
More than would keep his
Better
all the year.
Yea, many such as these, thou shouldst behold,
Which would be vext, if I describe them should:
For, thus, unworthily, blind
Fortune
flings,
To
Crowes,
and
Geese,
and
Swine,
her precious things.
The best
good-turns
that
Fools
can do us,
Proove disadvantages unto us.
[illustration]
STULTORUM ADIUMENTA NOCUMENTA.
ILLVSTR. XVII. Book. 4
A
Fool,
sent forth to fetch the
Goslings
home,
When they unto a Rivers brinck were come,
(Through which their passage lay) conceived a fear
His Dames best
Brood,
might have been drowned there;
Which, to avoid, he thus did show his wit,
And his good nature, in preventing it.
He, underneath his
girdle,
thrusts their heads,
And, then the Coxcombe through the water wades.
Here learn, that when a
Fool
his help intends,
It rather doth a mischief, then befriends;
And, think, if there be danger in his
love,
How harmful his
Maliciousnesse
may prove:
For, from his
kindness,
though no profit rise
To do thee spite, his
Malice
may suffice.
I could not from a
Prince
beseech a boone
By suing to his
Iester
or
Buffoone:
Nor, any Fools vain humor, sooth or serve,
To get my bread, though I were like to starve.
For, to be
poor,
I should not blush so much,
As if a
Fool
should raise me to be
rich.
Lord, though of such a kind my faults may be,
That sharp
Affliction
still must tutor me,
(And give me due
Correction
in her Schools)
Yet, oh preserve me from the scorn of
Fools.
Those wicked
Fools,
that in their hearts have sed▪
There is no God; and, rather give me
Bread
By
Ravens,
LORD, or in a
Lions
Den,
Then by the Favors of such foolish men:
Lest, if their
dainties
I should swallow down,
Their smile might more undo, me, then their
frown.
Though
weakness
unto me belong,
In my
Supporter,
I am strong.
[illustration]
TE STANTE VIREBO.
ILLVSTR. XVIII. Book. 4
A
Lthough there be no Timber in the
Vine,
Nor strength to raise the climbing
Ivy-twine,
Yet, when they have a helper by their side,
Or, prop to stay them, like this
Pyramide,
One root sometime, so many
Sprayes
will bear,
That, you might think, some goodly
Grove
it were:
Their tender stalkes, to climb aloft, are seen;
Their boughs are covered with a pleasant green;
And, that, which else, had crept upon the ground,
Hath tops of lofty trees, and turrets crowned.
This
Emblem,
fitly shadows out the Natures
Of us, that are the
Reasonable-creatures:
For, we are truly by our
nat'rall-birth,
Like
Vines
undrest, and creeping on the earth;
Nor free from spoiling, nor in case to bear
Good
fruits,
or
leaves,
while we are groveling there.
But, if
new-borne
by
Grace,
straight borne are we,
From earthly creepings, by that
Living-tree,
Which, here, was planted, merely to this end,
That, by his
power,
our
weakness
might ascend.
And, he our
frailty
to himself so takes,
So, of his
might,
the partners us he makes;
That, he, in us, doth seem to hide his
pow'rs,
And, make the
strength
he gives, appear as ours.
Continue,
Lord,
this
Grace,
and grant we may,
Firme hold, on our-
Supporter,
always lay:
So climbing, that we nor neglect, nor hide
His
Love
; nor over-climb it, by our
Pride.
Thus, our yet staggering
weakness,
shall at length,
Be fully changed into perfect
Strength.
Be wary, whosoe're thou be,
For, from
Loves
arrows, none are free.
[illustration]
FERIO.
ILLVSTR. XIX. Book. 4
G
Ood Folkes, take heed; for, here's a wanton
Wagge,
Who, having
Bows
and
Arrows,
makes his brag
That, he hath some unhappy trick to play;
And, vows to shoot at all he meets today.
P
•
ay be not careless; for, the
Boy
is blind,
And, sometimes strikes, where most he seemeth kind.
This rambling
Archer
spares nor one, nor other:
Yea, otherwhile, the
Monkey
shoots his Mother.
Though you be little
Children,
come not near;
For, I remember (thoughit be many a year
Now gone and past,) that, when I was a
Lad,
My Heart, a prick, by this young Wanton had,
That, pained me seven years after: nor had I
The grace (thus warned) to scape his waggery;
But many times, even since I was a man,
He shot me, oftener then I tell you can:
And, if I had not been the stronger-hearted,
I, for my over-daring, might have smarted.
You laugh now, as if this were nothing so;
But, if you meet this
Blinkard
with his Bow,
You may, unless you take the better care,
Receive a
wound,
before you be aware.
I fear him not; for, I have learned how
To keep my heart-strings from his Arrows now:
And, so might you, and so might everyone
That vain
Occasions,
truly seeks to shunn.
But, if you sleight my Counsels, you may chance
To blame at last, your willful ignorance:
For, some, who thought, at first, his wounds but small
Have died by them, in an
Hospital.
On whether side soe're I am,
I, still, appear to be the same.
[illustration]
QUOCUNQUE FERAR.
ILLVSTR. XX. Book. 4
T
His
Cube,
which is an equal-sided-square,
Doth very well, in
Emblem
-wise, declare
The temper of that virtuous minded man,
Whose resolutions nothing alter can.
For, as the
Cube,
which way soever placit,
Stands ever in one
posture,
firmly fast,
And, still appears the same in form and size,
Upon what side or part soe're it lies:
So, men well formed by the
Word
divine,
And, truly squar'd by virtuous
Discipline,
Will keep (though
changes
them shall turn & wind)
The
form
and
firmness
of an
honest-mind.
If, digging deep, his
Fortunes
lay him, there,
Where he his own, and others weights must bear,
(There▪ many years compelling him to lie,
Opprest with dis-respect or poverty)
He keeps the place to which he stands enjoin'd,
And brooks his chances with a constant mind.
If she remove him thence, and set him up
On temporal
Prosperities
high top,
The
Squarenesse
of
Plain dealing
he retains,
And, in the same integrity remains:
Nor coveting vain
Wealth,
or false
esteems
;
Nor, being any other than he seems.
Although by Nature, we are wondrous hard,
Lord,
let us into such like
Stones
be squar'd:
Then, place us in thy spiritual
Temple,
so,
That, into one firm
Structure,
we may grow;
And, when we, by thy
Grace,
are fitted thus,
Dwell
Thou thyself,
for evermore, in us.
Deformitie,
within may be,
Where outward
Beauties
we do see.
[illustration]
BELLA IN VISTA DENTRO TRISTA.
ILLVSTR. XXI. Book. 4
L
Ooke well, I pray, upon this
Beldame,
here,
For, in her
habit,
though she gay appear,
You, through her youthful
vizard,
may espy
She's of an old
Edition,
by her
Eye:
And, by her wainscot face, it may be seen,
She might your
Grandams
first
dry-nurse
have been.
This is an
Emblem,
fitly shaddowing those,
Who making fair, and honest outward shows,
Are inwardly deformed; and, nothing such,
As they to be supposed, have strived much.
They choose their
words,
and play well-acted
parts,
But, hide most loathsome projects in their hearts;
And, when you think sweet
Friendship
to embrace,
Some ugly
Treason,
meets you in the face.
I ha
••
a painted
Brow
; I much dislike
A Mayden-blush, daub'd on a furrowed
Cheeke:
And, I abhor to see old
Wantons
play,
And, suite themselves, like
Ladies of the May.
But, more (yea, most of all) my soul despiseth
A
Heart,
that in
Religious forms,
disguiseth
Profane intentions; and arrays in white,
The coal-black conscience of an
Hypocrite.
Take heed of such as these; and, (if you may)
Before you trust them, tract them in their way.
Observe their footsteps, in their private
path:
For, these (as 'tis believed, the
Devil
hath)
Have
cloven feet
; that is,
two ways
they go;
One for their
ends,
and tother for a
show.
Now, you thus warned are, advise embrace;
And, trust nor gaudy
Clothes,
nor painted
Face.
My
Hand
and
Heart,
in one agree,
What can you more desire of me?
[illustration]
EN DEXTRA FIDESQUE.
ILLVSTR. XXII. Book. 4
A
Heart
with
Hand-in-hand,
united thus,
Makes here an
Emblem
not unknown to us;
And, 'tis not hard for any Vulgar wit,
Without a
Comment,
to interpret it.
But, though of every man confessed it be,
That
Hand
and
Heart
together should agree;
And, that, what we in
outward show
express,
Perform'd should be, with
inward heartiness.
(Since, now the World, to such a pass is grown,
That, all is not considered, which is known)
I cannot think it altogether vain,
To speak of that, which may appear so plain.
When thou dost reach thy
hand
unto thy friend,
Take order, that thy
heart
the same intend:
For, otherwise in
Hand,
or
Heart,
thou liest,
And, cuttest off a
Member,
e're thou diest.
Some, give their
Hearts
(as many
Lovers
do)
Yet, are afraid, to set their
hands
thereto.
Some give their
Hands
; and, then by many a deed,
To ratify the
gift,
they dare proceed;
Yet, keep their
tongues
from saying what they meant,
To help excuse their
hearts,
when they repent.
Yea, some can very cunningly express,
In outward show, a winning heartiness,
And, steal the dear
affections
they have sought,
From those, to whom they meant, nor promised ought.
Then, will they, if
advantage
come thereby,
Make all their
Deeds,
for want of
Words,
a lie.
Among
Dissemblers,
in things temporal,
These
Raskalls
are the ver'est
Knaves
of all.
No
Emblem,
can at full declare,
How fickle,
Minds-inconstant
are.
[illustration]
VARIUM ET MUTABILE SEMPER.
ILLVSTR. XXIII. Book. 4
S
Ome, think this
Emblem
serveth to express
No more, but only
Womens
fickleness;
And, they will most desire to have it so,
Who, like those best, that most inconstant grow.
Although my
Fortunes
were, in some things, bad,
I never in my life, experience had
Of an
inconstant woman:
Wherefore, then,
Should I condemn the
Females,
more than men?
I hear some talk, that
Women
fickle be:
And so I think; and so I know are we.
And (being put together) say I dare,
That, they and we, in equal manner, share
A
giddiness,
and
fickleness
of mind,
More wavering, than a
Feather,
or the
Wind.
The
Woman,
here, is placed, to typisie
A mind distracted with much levity:
Not, that the woman's
Wav'rings
are the more;
But, for this cause: Most
Vices,
heretofore,
And
Virtues
too, our
Ancestors
did render,
By words declined in the
female-gender.
The
winged-Ball,
(whose tottering Foundation,
Augments the causes of our
variation
)
Means, here, those useless, and vain
temp'rall things,
That come and go, with never-staying
wings
;
And, which (if thereupon our hearts we set)
Make
Men
and
Women,
the
Vertigo
get.
Hereafter, then, let neither
Sexe
accuse
Each other; but, their best endeavors use,
To cure this
Maladie
in one another,
By living well, and lovingly together.
He that enjoys a
patient Mind,
Can
Pleasures
in
Afflictions
find.
[illustration]
GAUDET PATIENTIA DURIS.
ILLVSTR. XXIV. Book. 4
W
Hat means this
Country-peasant,
skipping here
Through prickling
Thistles
w
th
such gamesom cheer?
And, plucking off their tops, as though for
Posies,
He gathered Violets, or toothless Roses?
What meaneth it, but only to express
How great a joy, well-grounded
Patientnesse
Retaines in Suff
•
rings? and, what sport she makes,
When she her Journey through
Affliction
takes?
I, oft have said (and, have as oft, been thought▪
To speak a
Paradox,
that savors naught
Of likely truth) that, some
Afflictions
bring
A
Honey bag,
which cureth every Sting
(That wounds the
Flesh
) by giving to the
Mind,
A pleasing taste of
Sweetnesses
refined.
Nor can it other be, except in those,
Whose Better part, quite stupifyed grows,
By being Cauterized in the Fires
Of childish
Feares,
or temporal
Desires.
For, as th
•
Valiant
(when the
Coward
swounds)
With gladness lets the
Surgeon
search his Wounds;
And, though they smart, yet cheerfully endures
The Pla
•
sters, and, the Probe, in hope of Cures:
So, Men, assured that
Afflictions
pain
Comes not for vengeance to them, nor in vain;
But, to prepare, and fit them for the place,
To which, they willingly direct their pace;
In Troubles, are so far from being sad,
That, of their
Suffring,
they are truly glad.
What ever others think, I thus believe;
And, therefore,
joy,
when they suppose I
grieve.
All is not
Gold,
which makes a show:
But, what the
Touchstone
findeth so.
[illustration]
SIC SPECTANDA FIDES.
ILLVSTR. XXV. Book. 4
W
Hen Silver
Medalls,
or some coins of
Gold,
Are by the
Gold-smith
either bought or sold,
He doth not only search them with his
Eye,
But, by the
Scale,
their
weight
will also try;
Or, by the
Touchstone,
or the
Test,
assay
The truenesse of them, and their just
Alay.
Now, by their wariness, who thus proceed,
We fairly are admonished, to heed
The faithfulness of him we make our
Friend
;
And, on whose love we purpose to depend:
Or else, when we a
Jewel
think to get,
We may be cheated by a
Counterfet.
All is not
Gold
that glisters: Otherwhile,
The
Tincture
is so good, it may beguile
The cunningst eye: But, bring it to the
Touch,
And, then, you find the value not so much.
Some, keep the
Tincture,
brooking, likewise, well
An ordinary
Touch
; but, yield a
Smell,
Which will discover it, if you apply
Unto your
Nose,
that piece of
Chymistrie.
Sometime, when there's enough to give content,
In
Colour,
in the
Touch,
and in the
Scent
;
The
Bulk,
is more than answers
Gold
in
weight,
And, proves it a sophistical deceit.
Nay. some, is fully that which you desire,
In all these
Properties
; and, till the fire
Hath made
assays,
you will think you might be bold
To pawn your life, it had been
Ophir-gold:
But, to be false, the
Metall's
then descride;
And, such are many
Friends,
when they are tried.
Apollo
shoots not every day,
But, sometime on his
Harp
doth play.
[illustration]
NON SEMPER ARCUM TENDIT.
ILLVSTR. XXVI. Book. 4
T
Here are a sort of people so severe,
That,
foolish,
and
injurious
too, they are;
And, if the world were to be ruled by these,
Nor
Soul,
not
Body,
ever should have ease.
The
Six days,
(as their wisdoms understand)
Are to be spent in
Labor,
by command,
With such a strictness, that they quite condemn
All
Recreations
which are used in them.
That, which is called the
Sabbath,
they confine
To
Prayers,
and all
Offices-divine,
So wholly, that a little
Recreation,
That
Day,
is made a mark of
Reprobation
:
And, (by this means) the reason is to seek,
When their poor
Servants
labor all the
week,
(Of which, they'll bate them nothing) how it tyes
Them, to observe the six-fold
Sacrifice
By some enjoin'd; and gives them such due
Rest,
As
God
allowed, both to
Man
and
Beast.
He, gave the
Woods,
the
Fields,
and
Meddowes,
here,
A time to
rest,
as well as times to
bear.
The
Forest Boasts,
and
Heards,
have hours for
play,
As well as time to
graze,
and hunt their prey:
And, every
Bird
some leisure hath to sing,
Or, in the Air, to
sport
it on her wing.
And, sure, to
him,
for whom all these were made,
Less kindness was not meant, then these have had.
The
Flesh
will faint, if pleasure none it knows;
The Man grows mad, that always muzing goes.
The
Wisest men,
will
sometimes merry
be:
And, this is that, this
Emblem
teacheth me.
Live,
over mindful of thy dying;
For,
Time
is always from thee flying.
[illustration]
VIVE MEMOR LETHI FUGIT HORA.
ILLVSTR. XXVII. Book. 4
T
His vulgar
Figure
of a winged
glass,
Doth signify, how
swiftly Time
doth pass.
By that lean
Scull,
which to this
hour-glass
clings,
We are informed what effect it brings;
And, by the
Words
about it, we are taught
To keep our latter ending still in thought.
The common
hour-glass,
of the
Life
of
Man,
Exceedeth not the largeness of a span.
The
Sand
-like
Minutes,
fly away so fast,
That,
years
are out, e're we think
months
are past:
Yea, many times, our
nat'rall-day
is gone,
Before we looked for
twelve a clock at Noone
;
And, where we sought for
Bea
•
tie, at the Full,
We find the
Flesh
quite rotted from the
Skull.
Let these Expressions of
Times
passage, be
Remembrancers
forever,
Lord,
to me;
That, I may still be guiltless of their crime,
Who fruitlessly consume their precious
Time
:
And, mind my
Death,
not with a slavish fear,
But, with a thankful use, of
life-time,
here:
Not grieving, that my
days
away do post;
But, caring rather, that they be not lost,
And, lab'ring with Discretion, how I may
Redeem the
Time,
that's vainly slipped away.
So, when that
moment
comes, which others dread,
I, undismay'd, shall climb my
dying bed
;
With joyful
Hopes,
my
Flesh
to dust commend;
In
Spirit,
with a steadfast
Faith
ascend;
And, whilst I
living
〈◊〉
,
to
sin
so
die,
That
dying,
I may live eternally.
In every
Storm,
he standeth fast,
Whose dwelling, on the
Rock
is placed.
[illustration]
MEDIIS TRANQUILLUS IN UNDIS.
ILLVSTR. XXVIII. Book. 4
W
Hat thing soever some will have expressed,
As typified by this
Halcyons-nest,
I shall not think this
Emblem
ill-applied,
If, by the same, the
Church
be signifi'd.
For, as it is (by some) affirmed of these,
That, whilst they breed, the fury of the seas
Is through the world alayd; and, that their
Brood
Remains in safety, then, amidst the flood:
So, when the Christian
Church
was in her birth,
There was a general
Peace
throughout the earth;
And, those tumultuous
Waves,
which after that
Began to rise, and be enraged thereat,
Were calmed so, that
He
was borne in peace,
From whom, the faithful
Off-spring
did increase.
They, likewise, on a
Rock,
their dwellings have,
As here you see; and, though the raging
Wave,
Of dreadful
Seas,
hath beaten, ever since,
Against the
Fortress
of their strong defense,
Yet, still stands; and, safe, it shall abide,
Even in the midst of all their foaming pride.
Upon this
Rock
so place me, oh my God!
That, whatsoever
Tempests
be abroad,
I may not fear the fury of my Foe;
Nor be in danger of an overthrow.
My life is full of
Stormes;
the
Waters
roll,
As if they meant to swallow up my soul.
The
Tides
oppose; the furious winds do roar;
My
Cable's
weak, my
tacklings,
Lord are poor,
And, my frail,
vessel
cannot long endure;
Yet, reach to me thy hand, and I am secure.
That's
Friendship,
and
true-love,
indeed,
Which firm abides, in time of need.
[illustration]
BONA FIDE.
ILLVSTR. XXIX. Book. 4
T
Hat's
Love in earnest,
which is constant found,
When Friends are in
Affliction,
or in
Bands
;
And, their
Affection
merits to be
crowned,
Whose
hearts
are fastened where they join their
hands.
It is easy to be friendly, where we see
A
Complement
or two will serve the turn;
Or, where the
kindness
may requited be;
Or, when the charge is with a trifle borne.
It is as easy too, for him to spend
At once, the full Revenues of a year,
In Cares, for entertainment of his
Friend,
Who thinks his
glory,
is
expensive-cheer:
For, 'tis his pleasure; and, if none should come
Like
fashionable-Friends,
for him to court,
He would with
Rogues,
and
Canters,
fill the Roome,
Or, such as should abuse, and flout him for it.
But, hard it is, to suffer, or to spend
For him (though worthy) that's of mean estate,
Unlikely our occasions to befriend,
Or, one unable to remunerate.
Few men are liberal, whom neither
Lust,
Vain glory, Prodigality,
nor
Pride,
Doth forward into foolish
Bounty
thrust;
As may, by Observation be espide.
For, when a slender
Bounty
would relieve
Their virtuous
Friend,
whose wants to them are known,
To their
Buffoone,
a Knights estate they'll give,
And, think on toother trifles ill-bestowne.
Yet, this I will say; and, give the
Devil
his due;
These
Friends,
are to their
lusts,
and
humors,
true.
The
Sword
hath place, will
War
doth cease
And, useful
〈◊〉
, in time of
Peace.
[illustration]
PACISQUE BONUS BELLIQUE MINISTER.
ILLVSTR. XXX. Book. 4
T
He
Sword,
to be an
Emblem,
here, we draw,
Of the Authority, which keeps in awe
Our
Countries
Enemies; and, those that are
The Foes of
Peace,
as well as those of
War
;
That,
Peace
may give the
Law of Arms
her due,
And,
War,
to
Civil-pow'rs,
respect may show.
For,
Kingdoms,
nor in
War
not
Peace,
can stand,
Except the
Sword
have always some command:
Yea, that, for which our foreign
Spoyl
•
rs
come,
Domesticke Foes,
will else devour at home;
And,
stranger-drones
the peaceful
Bees
will harm,
Unless with warlike stings, themselves they arm.
Considering this, let none be so unwise,
The
Swords
well used protection to despise:
Or, think the practice of this
double-guard,
In any place, or age, may well be spared.
Let not the
Sword-man
sleight the pow'rfull
Gowne
;
Nor
Gowne-men
cast the
Sword
out of their Town,
Because it terrifies, or draweth Blood;
For, otherwhile Phlebotomy is good:
And, thought to kill a Lowse, the
Ban
•
ans
fear;
(Though
Anabaptist
•
love no
Sword
to wear)
Yet, being drawn, to fright, or cut off
Sin,
It may be brandish'd by a Cherubin.
However, from the
Sword
divide not you
(In any case) the peaceful
olive bough
:
That is, let
Peace,
at all times, be that
End,
For which, to draw the
Sword
you do intend;
And, for
well-doing,
be as ready, still,
To give
rewards,
as
blows,
for
doing-ill.
A
Fortune
is ordained for thee,
According as thy
Labors
he.
[illustration]
PAR SIT FORTUNA LABORI.
ILLVSTR. XXXI. Book. 4
T
He
Spade,
for
Labor
stands. The
Ball with wings,
Intendeth
flitting rolling-worldly-things.
This
Altar-stone,
may serve in setting forth,
Things firmer, solid, and of greater worth:
In which, and by the
words
inclosing these
You, the
•
e, may read, your
Fortune,
if you please.
If you, your
Labor,
on those things bestow,
Which
roll,
and
flutter,
always, to and fro;
It cannot be, but, that which you obtain,
Must prove a
wavering,
and inconstant gain:
For, he that soweth
Vanity,
shall find,
At
reaping-time,
no better fruit then
Wind,
Your hours, in serious matters, if you spend,
Or, such, as to a lasting purpose tend,
The purchase of your pains will ever last;
And, being you
Pleasure,
when the
Labor's
past.
Yea, though in tears, your
Seed-time
you employ,
Your
Harvest
shall be fetched home, with joy.
If
much
be wrought, much profit will ensue;
If
little,
but a little meede is due.
Of
nothing,
nothing comes : On
evil deeds
An evil conscience, and, ill fame succeeds:
An
honest-life,
still finds prepared for it
Sweet
Hopes
in Death ; and, after,
good-report.
Of
Sexe,
or of
Degree,
there's no regard:
But, as the
Labor,
such is the
reward.
To
work-aright,
oh
Lord,
instruct thou me;
And, grouud my
Works,
and
buildings
all on thee:
That by the fiery
Test,
when they are tried,
My
Work
may stand, and I may
safe
abide.
Let none in troublous times repine;
For, after
Stormes,
the
Sun
will shine.
[illustration]
POST NUBILA PHOEBUS.
ILLVSTR. XXXII. Book. 4
D
Iscourage not yourselves, although you see
The weather black, and
storms
prolonged be.
What though it fiercely
rains,
and thunders loud?
Behold, there is a
Rain-bow
in the
Cloud,
Wherein, a trustfull promise may be found,
That, quite, your
little-worlds,
shall not be drowned.
The
Sun-shine,
through the foggy mists appear,
The lowering
Sky,
begins again to clear;
And, though the
Tempest,
yet your eyes affright,
Faire weather may befall you, long ere night.
Such comfort speaks our
Emblem,
unto those,
Whom stormy
Persecution
doth enclose;
And, comforts him, that's for the present sad,
With hopes, that better seasons may be had.
There is nor trouble, sorrow, nor distress,
But mitigation hath, or some release.
Long
use,
or
time,
the storm away will turn,
Else,
Patience
makes it better to be borne.
Yea,
sorrows
lowering days, will come and go,
As well as prosp'rous hours of
Sunshine
do;
And, when' tis past, the
pain
that went before,
Will make the following pleasure seem the more.
For, he, hath promised, whom we may believe,
His blessing, unto those that
mourn
and
grieve
;
And, that, though sorrow much dejects their head,
In every need, we shall be comforted.
This promise I believe; in every grief,
Performe it,
Lord,
and help my unbelief:
So, others viewing how thou cheerest me,
Shall, in all
sorrows,
put their trust in thee.
For whatsoever,
Man
doth strive,
The Conquest,
God
alone, doth give.
[illustration]
OMNIS VICTORIA A DOMINO.
ILLVSTR. XXXIII. Book. 4
W
Hen on the
Sword,
the
Olive-branch
attends,
(That is, when bloody
Wars,
have peaceful
Ends
)
And, whensoever
Victories
are gained;
This
Emblem
shows, by whom they are obtained:
For, that all
Victory,
doth only from
The pow'rfull hand of
God-Almighty,
come,
The Boughes of
Bayes
and
Olives,
do declare,
Which round the
Tetragrammatan
appear.
Nor must we think, that God bestows, alone,
The
Victories
of War, on any one;
But, that, when we contend in other things,
From him, th'event that's wisht for, also springs.
This being so, how dare we, by the
Laws,
Or, by the
Sword,
pursue a wicked Cause?
How dare we bring a matter that's unjust,
Where he (though few perceive him) judge it must?
Or, prosecute with fury, or despite,
Against the person of his
Favorite?
What Fools are they, who seek the
Conquest,
by
Oppression, Fraud, or hellish Perjurie?
How mad are those, who to the
Wars
prepare,
For nothing, but to spoil and murder there?
Who, nor engaged by Faith to their
Alies,
Nor urged by any private injuries,
(Nor sent, nor tolerated, by their
Prince,
Nor caring whether side hath given offense)
Run rambling through the World, to kill and slay,
Like needy Butchers, for two groats a day?
These men may side, where
Conquests,
God bestows;
Yet, when the
Field
is won, these men do lose.
Since overmuch, will over-fill,
Pour out enough; but do not
spill.
[illustration]
NE QUID NIMIS.
ILLVSTR. XXXIV. Book. 4
I
T is this
Emblems
meaning, to advance
The love and practice, of true
Temperance.
For, by this
Figure
(which doth seem to fill,
Until the liquor overflow, and spill)
We are, as by example, taught to see
How fruitless our
Intemperancies
be:
Thus by the
Rule of Contrarieties,
Some
Virtues,
best are shown to vulgar eyes.
To see nasty
Drunkard,
reel and spew,
More moves to
Sobernesse,
than can the view
Of tweatie civil men; and, to behold
One
Prodigal,
(that goodly lands hath sold)
Stand torn and louzie, begging at the door,
Would make
Intemperance
abhorred more,
(And, manly
Sobernesse,
much better, each)
Than all that six
Philosophers
can preach:
So, by the
Vessels
overflowing, here,
True
Moderation
doth more praised appear,
Than by the
mean
it self: And, without sin,
That's
pictured,
which to
do,
had wicked been,
For, though to virtuous ends; we do deny
The
Doing-ill,
that
Good
may come thereby.
From hence, let us be taught, that careful heed,
Whereby we should both
Mind
and
Body,
feed.
Let us, of our own selves, observe the size;
How much we want, how little will suffice;
And, our own
longings,
rather leave unfill'd,
Than suffer any portion to be spill'd:
For, what we
mar,
shall to account be laid,
And, what we wisely
spend,
shall be repaid.
They pass through many
storms,
and
straits,
Who rise to any glorious
heights.
[illustration]
PER ANGUSTA AD AUGUSTA.
ILLVSTR. XXXV. Book. 4
T
His
Tree,
which here doth largely seem to grow,
(And spreads
above,
though straightened in
below
)
Through adverse
Winds,
and many a Winters blast,
Hath gained a fair proportion at the last;
And, from a lowly
shrub,
is grown to be
A well-esteemed, and a goodly
Tree.
Thus, hath it chanced unto many a man:
And, he that first in misery began,
(So poor and mean, that very few or none
Have judged him to be worth the looking on)
Even he, through scorns, through wrongs, and poverty,
Hath crept, and screw'd, and raised himself so high,
That, he hath placed been among the prime,
Of those, who seemed the
Worthies
of the time;
Yea, overtopped and awe'd, the best of those,
Who sought to curb him, when he first arose.
This, I have seen; And, as we seldom find
A
Tree
grow fair, that cannot brook the
Wind,
Or, must be house'd at Winter; or, on whom
The
Gardners
pruning-knife, did never come:
So, I have rarely known those men to rise
To any good, or noble qualities,
Who feel not, first some
hardship,
or some
storm,
To prune, to discipline, and to reform
Their wits and manners. For, prosperity,
Ease, plenty, and too large a liberty,
Doth often blast them, and, sometime bereave them,
Of what their
Predecessors
worth's, did leave them.
Let, therefore, no man, fear when this he knows.
Although in
tempests,
and through
straits
he goes.
God,
ever will
be
present, there,
Where, of one
Faith,
and
Mind
they are.
[illustration]
FIDUCIA CONCORS.
ILLVSTR. XXXVI. Book. 4
A
Fixed
Palme,
(whose
Fingers
do appear,
As if displayed, and advanced they were)
Intended by our
Author,
here, we see,
To sha
•
dow out
agreeing-Minds,
that be
Establish'd in one
Trust.
And, well it may,
That
Virtue,
of the holy
Church
display.
For, as our
hands,
the better means can make,
To
gain,
as well as to
retain,
or
take,
The
benefits
we seek; when we intend,
Our differing
Fingers,
all, to work one end:
So, when the
Church
of
Christ
(wherein we find
A diffrence of
Degrees
) shall with one
mind,
Persue a faithful hope; they'll soon obtain,
That wished benefit, they seek to gain:
For, when but two or three shall in
God's
name,
Req
•
est a
blessing,
he will grant the same.
Let all thy sev'rall
Churches,
LORD (that stand
Like many
Fingers,
members of one
Hand
)
Thy
Will Essentiall
with joint love obey,
Though circumstantially, they differ may.
Some have the larger
Circuit,
some are
stronger,
Some are of short
continuance,
some of longer;
But, though their
Gifts
may differ, yet provide,
That, still, on one
Foundation,
they may bide;
And, that, all those, who in one
Faith
agree,
May, in one
Band
of
Love,
united be:
Till our confined
Wisdom
comes to know,
That, many things, for which we wrangle so,
Would further that, whose hindrance we do fear,
If more our
Faith,
and l
•
sse our
Discord
were.
Protect
me, if I worthy be;
If I
demerit,
punish me.
[illustration]
PRO ME SI MEREOR IN ME.
ILLVSTR. XXXVII. Book. 4
T
His
Emblem,
forth unto your view hath set,
A
Sword,
together with a
Coronet
;
To show the prudent
Reader,
what Reward
For
ill,
and for
well doing
is prepared;
That they, who heretofore, amisle have done,
May learn, their threatened punishments to shun:
That they, whose
Actions
warrantable were,
May, in their honest
Courses,
persevere:
And, that those men, who great and pow'rfull be,
Should punish and reward, as cause they see.
Men are of diff'ring tempers: Some, are won
By promises, and gentle means alone:
Some, moved are by shame; and, some through dread,
To be in purse, or body punished.
And, some, their duties are allured to do,
No way, but by a mixture of these two.
They, therefore, neither
Wise,
nor
Honest
be,
Who dandle all Offenders on their knee;
Or, punish only with a
God-forbid
;
Or,
Do not so, my sons,
as
Eli
did.
Nor wiser ought, are they, nor honester,
Who always fright, and threaten those that err;
No mercy joining, to the chastisement
Of them, whose faults are worthy to be shent.
Nor are they less to blame, who carry
Swords,
To punish errors; but, nor looks, nor words,
To cherish well deservings: And, in this,
Most men, that punish others, do amiss.
Sure, if the
Sword misdoing,
may pursue,
For
doing-well,
the
Coronet
is due.
The
Tongue,
which every secret speaks,
Is like a
Barrel
full of leaks.
[illustration]
HAC ATQUE ILLAC PERFLUIT.
ILLVSTR. XXXVIII. Book. 4
T
He
Barrel,
from whose bottom, sides, and b
•
ng,
The liquor (as in this our
Emblem
) flows,
May fitly typify the babbling
Tongue,
Of him that utters everything he knows.
For, such as are their tasks, who strive to fill
An ever-leaking
Vessel,
to the brim;
Even such are his, who laboreth to still
A
tattlers
tougue; for, pains are lost on him.
This
Figure,
also, serveth to express,
The trustlesse nature of a
whorish woman
;
For, she to all displays her wantonness,
And, cares to keep her secresies, from no man.
Within her bosom, nothing long she keeps,
But, whatsoever she conceives or knows,
Streight, from the heart, up to her tongue, it creeps;
And, round about the
City,
then, it goes.
Be warned therefore, and commit thou not
Thy person, state, or fame, to such as these;
Lest, they thy
Reputation
do bespot,
Consume thy
Substance,
or thy
Mind
disease.
But, most of all, be wary, lest the crime,
Which here we do reprove, thy mind infect:
For,
Vice,
like
weeds,
will grow in little time,
And, out-grow
Virtues,
if we them neglect.
The surest way to keep such errors out,
And, in ourselves true
Virtues
to maintain;
Is, to be
hoopt
with
Temp'rance,
round about,
And, our out-flowing humors to restrain.
If thus we practice, 'twill prevent the wrongs
Of our own errors, and of others tongues.
How ever thou the
Viper
take▪
A dang'rous hazard thou dost make.
[illustration]
UT CUNQUE.
ILLVSTR. XXXIX. Book. 4
T
His
Figure
warns us, that we meddle not
With matters, whereby nothing may be got,
Save
harm
or
loss
; and, such as once begun,
We may, nor safely
do,
nor leave
undone.
I should be loath to meddle in the strife
Arising 'twixt a
Husband,
and his
Wife
;
For,
Truth
concealed, or spoke, on either side,
May one or th' other grieve, or both divide.
I would not with my most familiar
Mate,
Be
Partner
in the whole of my estate;
Lest I, by others errors, might offend,
Or, wrong my Family, or, lose my
Friend.
I would not, willingly, in my distress,
From an unworthy hand, receive redress;
Nor, when I need a
Surety,
would I call
An
Unthrift,
or a roaring
Prodigal:
For, either these I thanklesly must shun,
Or, humor them, and be perhaps undone.
I would not hear my
Friend
unwisely prate
Those things, of which I must inform the
State:
And, seem unfriendly; or, else leave to do,
That, which a stronger
Band
obligeth to.
Nor would I, for the world, my heart should be
Enthrald by one, that might not
marry
me;
Or, such like
passions,
be perplexed in,
As hang betwixt a
Virtue,
and a
Stone
;
Or, such, as whether way soe're I went,
Occasion'd guilt, or shame, or discontent:
For, howsoe're we manage such like things,
We handle winding
Vipers,
that have stings.
The gaining of a rich Estate,
Seemes, many times, restrained by
Fate.
[illustration]
FATA OBSTANT.
ILLVSTR. XL. Book. 4
O
Bserve this
Wheel,
and you shall see how
Fate
Doth limit out to each man, that Estate
Which he obtains; Then, how he doth aspire
To such a height; and, why he mounts no higher:
For, whatsoever their
Authors
understood,
These
Emblems,
now, shall speak as I think good.
The
Cornucopias
fastened to a
Round,
Thus fixed, may show, that Riches have their
bound
;
And, can be raised, by man's power or wits,
No higher than
God's
Providence permits.
The placing of them on that
Wheel,
doth show,
That, some wax
Poor,
as others
Wealthy
grow:
For, look how much the higher, one doth rise,
So much the lower, still, the other lies;
And, when the height of one is at an end,
He sinks again, that others may ascend.
The many stops, which on this
Wheel
you spy,
Those many
obstacles
may typisie,
Which bar all those that unto
Wealth
aspire,
From compassing the
Round
of their desire.
The want of
Wit,
from
Riches,
barreth some;
Some, cannot rich, because of
Sloth,
become.
Some, that are
wise,
and
painful,
are denied
Encrease of wealth, through
Pleasure,
or through
Pride.
Some, lose much profit, which they else might make,
Because of
Conscience,
or for
Credit
sake.
If none of these did hinder, we have store,
That might be
Rich,
who, yet, are very
Poor.
And, these, indeed, do come to be those
Fates,
Which keep most men, from getting large
Estates.
In all thine
Actions,
have, a care,
That no
unseemlinesse appear.
[illustration]
VT NE QUID DEDECEAT.
ILLVSTR. XLI. Book. 4
T
He
Virgin,
or the
Wife,
that much desires,
To please her
Lovers,
or her,
Husband's
Eyes,
In all her costl'est
Robes,
her self attires;
And, seeks the coml'est
Dresse,
she can devise.
Then, to her trusty
Looking-glass,
she goes,
(Where, often, she her person turns and winds)
To view, how seemly her attiring shows;
Or, whether ought amiss therein she finds.
Which praisefull
Diligence,
is figured thus
In this our
Emblem
; that, it may be made
A documentall sign, remembering us,
What care of all our
Actions,
must be had.
For, he that in
God's
presence would appear
An acceptable
Soul
; or, gracious grow
With men, that of approved conditions are,
Must by some faithful
Glass,
be trimmed so.
The good Examples of those pious men,
Who lived in elder times, may much avail:
Yea, and by others evils, now and then,
Men see how grossly, they themselves, do fail.
A wise Companion, and, a loving Friend,
Stands nearer, than those ancient glasses do;
And, serveth well to such an useful end:
For▪ he may be thy
Glass,
and
Fountain
too.
His good
Example,
shows thee what is fit;
His
Admonition,
checks what is awry;
He, by his
Good-advise,
reformeth it;
And, by his
Love,
thou mend'st it pleasedly.
But, if thou do desire the perfect'st
Glass,
Join to the
Moral-Law,
the
Law of Grace.
We, bring the
Honey
to the
Hive;
But, others, by our labors thrive.
[illustration]
NON NOBIS.
ILLVSTR. XLII. Book. 4
T
He pretty
Bees,
with daily pains contrive
Their curious
Combes,
and from the flowery Fields,
Do bring that pleasant sweetness
•
e to their Hive,
Which
Nectar,
and
Ambrosiack
dainties, yields,
Yet, when themselves with labors they have tired,
The following Winters famine to prevent,
For their good service, either they are fired,
Or, forth into an empty
Hive
are sent:
And, there, with slender diet they are served,
To leave another
Summers
work, to those
Who take no care, though all the swarm be starved,
If weak and quite past labor once it grows.
As with such
Bees,
it fares with many a one,
That, spends his youthful time in honest thrift;
And, by the
Waspe,
the
Hornet,
or the
Drone,
Of all their labors, they are soon bereft.
Sometime, the bordring
Flies,
much wrong this
brood,
Through idle
visitings
; or, them despoyle,
By making friendly shows of
neighbourhood
;
When, all their Complements, are naught but guile.
Sometime, their powerful Foes do rob them quite;
Sometime, their
Lord's,
or
Landlords,
with pretence,
Of claiming only what is just and right,
Oppresse them without
mercy,
or
defense.
Thus, by one course or other, daily, some
(That are laborious in an honest way)
The prey of Pride, or Idleness become:
And, such as these, may therefore truly say,
That, whatsoever they to pass have brought,
Not for themselves, but others, they have wrought.
God,
by their Names, the
Stars
doth call;
And, he is
Ruler
of them all.
[illustration]
ASTRA DEUS REGIT.
ILLVSTR. XLIII. Book. 4
S
Ome say, and many men do these commend)
That, all our
deeds,
and
Fortunes
do depend
Upon the motions of celestial
Sphere
•
;
And, on the constellations of the
Stars.
If this were true, the
Stars,
alone, have been
Prime cause of all that's
good,
and of all
sin.
And, 'twere (me thinks) injustice to
condemn,
Or, give rewards to any, but to
them.
For, if they made me
sin,
why for that ill,
Should I be damned, and they shine brightly, still?
If they enforced my
goodness,
why should I
Be glorified for their
Piety?
And, if they neither
good
nor
ill
contstrain,
Why then, should we of
Destinie
complain?
For, if it be (as tis) absurd to say,
The stars enforce us (since they still obey
Their just
Commander
) 'twere absurder, far,
To say, or think, that God's
Decree
it were,
Which did
necessitate
the very same,
For which, we think the
stars
might merit blame.
He made the
stars
to be an aid unto us,
Not (as is fondly dreamed) to help undo us:
(Much less, without our fault, to ruinate,
By doom of irrecoverable
Fate
)
And, if our good Endeavors, use we will,
Those glorious creatures will be helpful still
In all our honest ways: For, they do stand
To help, not hinder us, in God's command;
And, he not only rules them by his pow'rs,
But, makes their Glory, servant unto ours.
Who,
Patience
tempts, beyond her strength,
Will make it
Fury,
at the length.
[illustration]
FUROR FIT LAESA SAEPIUS PATIENTIA.
ILLVSTR. XLIIII. Book. 4
A
Lthough we know not a more patient creature,
Than is the
Lamb,
(or, of less harmful nature)
Yet, as this
Emblem
shows, when childish wrong,
Hath troubled, and provoked him overlong,
He grows enraged; and makes the wanton
Boys,
Be glad to leave their sports, and run their ways.
Thus have I seen it with some Children fare,
Who, when their
Parents
too indulgent were,
Have urged them, till their
Doting
grew to
Rage,
And, sh
•
t them wholly from their Heritage.
Thus, many times, a foolish man doth lose
His faithful Friends, and justly makes them foes.
Thus, froward
Husbands
; and, thus, peevish
Wives,
Do fool away the comfort of their lives;
And, by abusing of a
patient-Mate,
Turn dearest
Love,
into the deadliest
Hate:
For any wrong may better be excused,
Than,
Kindnesse,
long and willfully abused.
Put, as an injured
Lamb,
provoked, thus,
Well typisies how much it moveth us,
To find our
Patience
wronged: So, let us make
An
Emblem
of ourselves, thereby to take
More heed, how God is moved towards them,
That, his
long suffering,
and his
Love
contemn.
For, as we somewhat have of every
Creature,
So, we in us, have somewhat of his
Nature:
Or, if it be not said
the same
to be,
His
Pictures,
and his
Images
are we.
Let, therefore, his
long-suffering,
well be weighed,
And, keep us, to
provoke him,
still afraid.
He that is
blind,
will nothing
see,
What
light
soe're about him be.
[illustration]
COECUS NIL LUCE IUVATUR.
ILLVSTR. XLV. Book. 4
I
T is by some supposed, that our
Owls,
By Day-time, are no perfect sighted
Fowls
;
And, that, the more you do augment the
light,
The more you shall deprive them of their
sight.
Nor
Candles, Torches,
nor the
Sun at noon,
Nor
Spectacles,
nor all of these in one
Can make an
Owlet
in the daytime see,
Though none, by
night,
hath better eyes than she.
This
Emblem,
therefore, sets their
blindness
forth,
Who cannot see, when an apparent
worth
Illustrates virtuous Men; yet, seem to spy
Those faults, where with ill-willers them belie.
The
blind
•
esse,
also, well it may declare,
Of
Heretics,
who Eagle sighted are,
In
Sophistries,
and in the cloudy night,
Of those dark
Errors,
which delude the
sight
;
Yet, cannot see the Rayes of
Truth
divine,
Though, brighter than the
Day light,
she doth shine.
It, likewise, very fitly typifies,
Those, in our days, who spy out mysteries,
Beyond the
Moon
; yet, cannot gain the view
Of that, which common
Reason
proveth true:
And, therefore, only, cry it (madly) down,
Because, by
Reasons
light, it may be known.
These, when 'twas offered, first, the light refused;
And, they have now the darkness which they chose.
Till, therefore, God shall offer
Grace
again,
Man strives to set up
Lights,
to these, in vain:
For, what are
Lights
to those who
blinded
be?
Or, who so
blind,
as they that will not see?
None knows, until the
Fight
be past,
Who shall be
Victor,
at the last.
[illustration]
INTER UTRUMQUE VOLAT.
ILLVSTR. XLVI. Book. 4
W
Hile these two
Champions
for the
Conquest
fight,
Betwixt them both
Victoria
takes her flight,
On doubtful wings; and, till the
fray
be past,
None knows▪ to whether, she the
Wreath
will cast.
Which
Emblem
serves, not only, to express
The danger, and the issues doubtfulness,
In all
Contentions
; but, may warn us too,
That, we no strivings rashly undergo;
Since they, who long with painful skill have striv'd
Of likely
Conquests,
are at length deprived.
Force,
much prevails; but
Sleight
and
Wit
hath pow'
•
.
Sometime, to hurl down
Strength
upon the floor.
Sometimes again, our
Ingineeres
do fail;
And,
Blowes,
do more than
Stratagems,
prevail.
Though, I, upon mine
honest-Cause
depend,
Another may o'rethrow it, by his
Friend
:
And, he that boasteth of his
Patrons
grace,
May lose his hopes, if Bribing come in place.
To say the Truth, in whatsoever Cause,
We by the
Sword
contend, or by the
Laws,
There's no event or issue more assured,
Than this, that, loss to both shall be procured:
And, that, sometime, as well an
innocent,
As
guilty-cause,
may find an ill event.
Let, therefore, our endeavors be, to strive,
Who, shall hereafter, least occasion give
Of those
contentions,
and of those
debates,
Which hurt our honor, safety, or estates:
That, we, a
Conquest,
may be sure to gain,
And, none repine, at that which we obtain.
Why should I fear the want of
Bread
?
If
God
so please , I shall be
fed.
[illustration]
SI DEUS VOLUERIT.
The blessed
Psalmist,
fitly did express,
By
grinning-dogs,
which howling roame by night,
To satisfy their grudging appetite.
Here, therefore, by an
Emblem,
we are shown,
That,
God,
(who as he lists, bestows his own)
Providing so, that none may be unfed,
Doth offer to the
Dogs,
the
Children's
bread.
And, by this
Emblem,
we advised are,
Of their presumptuous boldness to beware,
Who bound God's
Mercy
; and, have shut out some
From hope of
Grace,
before the
Night
is come:
Since, to the
Dogs,
his meat is not denide,
If they
return,
(though not till
Evening tide.
)
Moreover, we, some notice hence may take,
That, if provision,
God,
vouchsafes to make,
For
Lions, Dogs,
and
Ravens,
in their need,
He will his
Lambes,
and harmless
Turtles
feed:
And, so provide, that they shall always have
Sufficient, to maintain the
Life
he gave.
I must confess, I never merit shall,
The
Crummes,
which from thy
Children's
table fall:
Yet, thou hast oft, and freely fed me,
Lord,
Among thy
Children,
at thy
Holy-board
:
Nor have I, there, been filled with
Bread
alone;
But, on the blessed
Body
of thy
Son,
My
Soul
hath feasted. And, if thou dost grant
Such favors,
Lord
! what can I fear to want?
For, doubtless, if thy
Son
thou please to give,
All other things with him, I shall receive.
All
Flesh,
is like the withered
Hay,
And, so it strings, and fades away.
[illustration]
OMNIS CARO FOENUM.
ILLVXTR. XLVIII. Book. 4
T
His
Infant,
and this little Trusse of
Hay,
When they are moral zed, seem to say,
That,
Flesh
is but a tust of Morning
Grass,
Both green, and withered, ere the day-light pass.
And, such we truly find it; for, behold,
As
•
oone as Man is borne, he waxeth old,
In Griefes, in Sorrowes, or Necessities;
And, withers every hour, unti
•
l he dies:
Now, flourishing, as
Grass,
when it is grown,
Straight perishing, as
Grass,
when it is mown.
If, we with other things, man's
Age
compare,
His
Life
is but a
Day
(For, equal'd are
His
Yeares
with
Houres:
His
Months,
with
Minutes
be
Fit parallels; and, every
breathing,
we
May term a
Day
) yet, some, even at the
Night
Of that short
Day,
are dead, and witherd quite.
Before the
Morning
of our lives be done,
The
Flesh
oft fades: Sometime, it grows till
Noone:
But, there's no mortal
Flesh,
that will abide
Vnparched longer, than till
Evening-tide.
For, in it self, it always carries that,
Which helpeth so, it self to
•
uinate;
That, though it feel, nor
storm,
not scorching
flame,
An inbred
Canker,
will consume the same.
Considering well, and well remembering this,
Account the
Flesh
no better than it is:
Wrong not thine everlasting
Soul,
to cherish
A
Gourd,
which in a moments time will perish.
Give it the tendance, fit for fading
Crops
;
But, for
Hay harvest,
lose not better hopes.
Make use of
Time,
that's
coming on
;
For, that is perished, which is
gone.
[illustration]
PERIT QUOD ELAPSUM EST.
ILLVSTR. XLIX. Book. 4
T
His
Glass
declares, how
Time
doth, pass away;
And, if the
Words,
about it, rightly say,
Thy
Time that's, gone, is lost:
and, proof will show,
That, many find both
Words,
and
Emblem,
true.
How f
•
st their
Time
departs, they best perceive,
From whom it steals, before they take their leave,
Of what they love; and, whose last
hour
is gone,
Before their chiefest businesses are done.
How fast it slides, even they are also taught,
(Too late, perhaps) who never kept in thought
Their
ending-day
; but, always did presume,
Or, largely hope upon the
Time to come
;
The
present-hours,
nor thankfully enjoying,
Nor, honestly, nor usefully employing.
That
years expired, are lost,
they likewise find:
For, when their understanding brings to mind,
How fondly (or, how ill perchance) they spent
Their
passed age
; they see, with discontent,
The
Time,
not only
lost,
but, worse than so;
Lost
with a thousand other Losses moe:
And, that, when they shall need it,
wealth
nor
power,
Can purchase them, one
minute
of an
hour.
Consider this, all ye that spend the
prime,
The
nonne-tide,
and the
twilight
of your
Time,
In childish play-games, or mere worldly things;
As if you could, at pleasure, clip
Times
wings,
Or turn his
Glass
; or, had a
Life,
or twain
To live, when you had fooled out
this
in vain.
Short is the
present
; lost
Times-passed
be;
And,
Time to come,
we may not live to see.
The
Garland,
He alone shall wear,
Who, to the
Goale,
doth persevere.
[illustration]
PERSEVERANTI DABITUR.
ILLVSTR. L. Book. 4
A
N
Arm
is with a
Garland
here extended;
And, as the
Motto
saith. it is intended,
To all that persevere.
This being so;
Let none be faint in heart, though they be
slow
:
For, he that
creeps,
until his
Race
be done,
Shall gain a
Wreath,
as well as they that
run.
This being so; let no man walk in doubt,
As if God's
Arm
of
Grace
were stretched out
To some small number: For, who're
begins
And
perseueres,
the profer'd
Garland
winns:
And, God respects no persons; neither lays
A stumbling block in any of our Waies.
This being so, let no man thinkit enough
To set his hand, a little, to the Plough,
And, then desist; but, let him still pursue,
To do that
Work,
to which that
Wreath
is due:
For, nor on
Good beginners,
nor on those
That,
walk half-way,
(much less on him, that goes
No step at all) will God this
gift
confer;
But, only, unto those that
persevere.
LORD, by thy
Grace,
an entrance I have made
In honest
Pathes
; and, thy assistance had,
To make in them, some slow
proceedings
too.
Oh grant me, full ability, to do
Thy sacred
Will
; and, to
beginn,
and
end
Such
Works,
as to thy
glory,
still, may tend.
That (
Walking,
and
continuing
in the
Path,
Which evermore, thine approbation hath)
I may that
Garland,
by thy
grace,
obtain,
Which, by mine own
desert,
I cannot gain.
Glory be to God.
THE FOURTH LOTTERIE.
1
T
Hou, of a noble mind, art thought,
Which, heavenly things, hath chiefly sought.
And, scorn'st thy virtue to debase,
By loving those of lower place.
If so, thine
Emblem
doth express
Thy
Wisdom,
and thy
worthiness.
But, if to earthward thou incline;
2
Some
words
or
thoughts,
perhaps, of your
Have wronged God's
providence,
or
Pow're:
Els, you (it may be) to some
place,
Confine his unconfined
Grace
;
Or, think, he never taketh care,
Of any
Realm,
but where you are.
Your
Lot,
now, therefore, doth provide,
3
Thou mayest be
wise,
but, there is, yet,
Some crack, or failing in thy
wit:
For, thou dost
personate
a
part,
That, shows thee other, then thou
art.
Thine
Emblem,
therefore, doth declare,
What
Habit,
such deserve to wear,
And, that, he merits
Asses
ears,
4
You have, as yet, much
work
to do,
But, yoo have
little time
thereto:
That,
little,
flies away with speed,
And, you the
Loss,
as little heed.
Lest, therefore, all your time be gone,
Before you duly think thereon,
A
memorandum
you have got,
5
Though you, perhaps, no
peril
dread,
A
mischief
hangs above your head;
By which, you (taking little care)
May perish ere you be aware.
To mind you, therefore, to eschew
Such Miseries as may ensue;
Your
Lot,
this warning
Emblem
sent;
6
Thou
fly'st,
in hope, to shun thy grief;
Thou
changest place,
to seek relief;
And, many blameless things are shent
As, causers of thy discontent.
But trouble, now, no more thy mind,
The root of thy disease to find;
For, by thine
Emblem,
thou shalt see,
M 7
Thou art, or else thou wert, of late,
Some great, or petty,
Magistrate
;
Or,
Fortune
thereunto, perchance,
In time to come, will thee advance.
But, by thine
Emblem,
thou shalt see,
That, when restrein'd, thy
power
shall be,
Offenders, thereof will be glad,
And skoffe the pow're which thou hast had;
Observe it; and be so
upright,
8
Promotion
thou dost much desire,
And, spacious
Fortunes
to acquire;
As, if thou thoughtest, thou mightest attain,
True
Blessedness,
by such a
gain:
To show thee, therefore, what event,
What
happiness,
and what
content,
Such things, will bring us, at the last,
9
Disheartned be not, though thou see,
Thy
Hopes,
quite frustrate seem to be;
For, many
Hopes,
appearing past,
Have, been renewed again, at last;
And, grew far greater, then before,
When, they seemed lost, for evermore.
Examples,
therefore, now are brought,
M 10
Most men desire to gain the
Fate,
Which keeps them safe, in every state;
And, you, no doubt, would fain provide;
A
Station,
which might firm abide.
If so you mean; your
L
•
t
hath brought,
Some news of that, which you have sought:
For, by your
Emblem,
you may see,
11
You seem, to wonder, much of late,
That, some go
backward
in
Estate,
Who seem to thrive; and, why, we find,
Those
Friends,
who seemed very kind,
(And, forward, good respects to show)
Do, now unkind, and froward grow.
But, when your
Emblem
you shall see,
12
Thou seekst a
Conquest
; or, (at least)
Of such a Pow're to be possessed,
As none can conquer; And, bohold,
Thou, in an
Emblem,
shalt be told
The means to get thy hearts desire.
Yet, know, that if thou come no nigher,
Then but to
know
the means of
bliss,
13
Thou liv'st as one who thinks, that,
Fate
All Actions did
ne
•
essitate
;
And, that to
do,
or leave
undone,
Thy Businesses, came all to one.
If thus thou think, perhaps, this
Chance
;
May help to cure thine
Ignorance
;
And, show, when 'twill be, wholly, fit
14
Thy Neighbors
house
when thou dost view,
Welfurnisht, pleasant, large,
or
new,
Thou thinkest good
LARES,
always dwell,
In Lodgings that are trimmed so well.
But, by thine
Emblem,
thou art shown,
That (if thou lov'dst what is thine
own
)
Thatcht Roofes,
as true Contentments yield,
As those, that are with
Cedar
seeld.
Vain
Fancies,
therefore, from thee cast;
15
Thou seek'st
Preferment,
as a thing,
Which
East,
or
Western-winds
might bring;
And, thinkest to gain a temp'rall
Crown,
By
Powres
and
Virtues
of thine own:
But, now thy
Lot
informs from whom,
The
Scepter,
and
preferments
come;
Seek, thence, thy lawful
hopes
fruition,
16
This
Lot,
though rich, or poor, thou be,
Presents an
Emblem,
fit for thee.
If
Rich,
it warns not to be
proud
;
Since,
Fortunes
favors are allowed
To
Swinish-men
▪ If thou be
poor,
Deject thou not thyself, the more;
For, many worthymen, there are,
17
Thou, dost not greatly care, by whom
Thy
wealth,
or thy
Preferments,
come:
So, thou mayest get them,
Fool
or
Knave,
Thy
prayers,
and thy
praise
may have;
Because thou dost nor fear, nor dream,
What disadvantage comes by them:
But, by thine
Emblem,
thou shalt see,
18
You boast, as if it were, unknown
The power you have were not your own:
But, had you not an able
Prop,
You could not bear so high a
Top
;
And, if that
Ayde
forsake you shall,
Down to the ground, you soon will fall.
Acknowledge this; and, humble grow,
19
This
Lot
of yours doth plainly show,
That, in some danger now you go.
But,
wounds
by
Steele,
yet, fear you not;
Nor
Pistoling,
nor
Cannon-shot
;
But, rather, dread the
shafts
that fly,
From some deep-wounding
wantons
eye.
Your greatest perils are from thence;
20
Thy Virtues, often, have been tried,
To find what proofs they will abide:
Yet, think not all thy
Trialls
past,
Till thou on every side art cast;
Nor, fear thou, what may chance to thee,
If truly, square, thy dealings be:
For, then, what ever doth befall,
21
Fine
Clothes,
fair
Words,
enticing
Face,
With
Maskes
of
Piety
and
Grace,
Oft, cheat you, with an outward show,
Of that, which proveth nothing so.
Therefore, your
Emblems
Moral read;
And, ere too far you do proceed,
Think, whom you deal withal today,
22
You, are accused of no man, here,
As, if to any, false, you were
In
word,
or
Deed
; and, wish, we do,
Your
Conscience
may acquit you too,
But, if yourself you guilty find,
(As, unto such a fault inclined)
The crime, already
past,
repent;
M 23
You have delighted much, of late,
Gainst
Womens
fickleness, to prate;
As if this frailty you did find,
Entail'd, alone, on
Womankind:
But, in yourself, there's now and then,
Great proofs, of wav'ring minds, in men:
Then, jugde not faults which are unknown;
24
At you
Afflictions,
you repine,
And, in all troubles, cry, and whine;
As if, to
suffer,
brought no
Joy
;
But, quite, did all contents destroy.
That, you might, therefore,
patient
grow,
And, learn, that Virtues pow're, to know,
This
Lot,
unto your view, is brought:
25
On outside
Friends,
thou much relist,
And,
trustest,
oft, before thou try'st;
By which, if
Cousnage
thou escape,
Thy
Wit
we praise not, but thy
Hap
:
But lest by
trust,
(e're
trial due
)
Thou, overlate, thy
Trusting
sue;
Observe the
Moral
of thy
Lot,
26
By this your
Lot,
it should appear,
That, you yourself are too severe;
Or, have, by some, persuaded been,
That, every
Pleasure
is a
sin.
That, wiser therefore, you may grow,
You have an
Emblem,
now, to show,
That,
He,
whose wisdom all men praise,
27
Thou little heedst how
Time
is lost,
Or, how thine
Howres
away do post;
Nor art thou mindful of the day,
In which thy life, will breath away.
To thee this
Lot,
now therefore, came,
To make thee heedful of the same.
So, of thy Duty, let it mind thee,
28
A safe-abiding, wouldst thou know,
When
Seas
do rage, and
winds
do blow?
If so; thine
Emblem
shows, thee, where
Such
Privileges
gained are.
Observe it well; then, do thy best,
To be a
Yongling,
in that nest
There
Moraliz'd:
and, mock thou not
29
Believe not, always, as thy
Creed,
That,
Love-professed,
is
Love-indeed
;
But, their
Affections
entertain,
Who in thy
need,
firm
Friends
remain.
Perhaps, it much may thee concern,
This
Lesson,
perfectly, to learn.
Thine
Emblems
moral, therefore view,
30
The
Consciences,
of some, afford
No Lawfull use unto the
Sword
:
Some dream, that, in the time of peace,
The practice of all
Arms
may cease;
And, you, perhaps, among the rest,
With such like fancies are possessed.
However, what your
Moral
says
31
A better
Fortune
you might gain,
If you, could take a little
pain
:
If you have
Wealth,
you should have more,
And, should be Rich, (though you are
poor
)
If to the
longings
you have had,
A true
endeavor
you would add:
For, by your
Emblem,
you may see,
32
When any troublous Time appears,
Your
Hope
is overcome, with
fears,
As, if with every
Flood
of
Rain.
The
World
would quite be drownd again,
But, by your
Emblem,
you shall see,
That,
Sunshine,
after
Stormes
may be:
And, you this
Lot,
(it may be) drew,
33
When, you to ought, pretend a right,
You think to win it by your
might.
Yea, by your strength, your purse or friends,
You boast to gain your wished
Endes.
But, such
Presumptions
to prevent
You to an
Emblem
now are sent
That, shows, by whom he
Victor
grows,
34
If, truly
temperate,
thou be,
Why should this
Lot,
be drawn by thee?
Perhaps, thou either dost exceed,
In costly Robes; or drink, or feed,
Beyond the
mean.
If, this thou find,
Or, knowest, in any other kind,
How thou offendest by
excess,
35
Thou hop'st, to climb, to honored
heights,
Yet, wouldst not pass through storms or
straits
;
But, shun'st them so, as if there were
No way to
bliss,
where
troubles
are.
Lest, then, thou lose thy hoped-for praise,
By, seeking wide, and easy ways;
See what thine
Emblem
doth disclose.
36
Sometimes, it may be, thou dost find,
That, God, thy
p
•
ayers,
doth not mind,
Nor, heed, of those
Petitions
take,
Which, men and
Congregations
make.
Now, why they take so ill effect,
Thou, by our
Moral,
mayest collect:
And, by the same, shalt also see,
37
Thou, hast been very forward, still,
To
punish
those, that merit ill;
But, thou didst never, yet, regard
To give
Desert,
her due
Reward.
That, therefore, thou mayest now have care,
Of such
Injustice,
to beware,
Thine
Emblem,
doth to thee present,
38
Thou, either hast a
babbling tongue,
Which, cannot keep a
secret,
long;
Or, shalt, perhaps, endanger'd grow,
By such, as utter all they know.
In one, or other, of the twain,
Thou mayest be harm'd; and, to thy gain,
It may redound, when thou shalt see,
39
By this, thy
Lot,
we understand,
That, somewhat, thou hast took in hand,
Which, (whether, further, thou
Proceed
Or quite
desist
) will danger breed.
Consider, then, what thou hast done,
And, since the
hazard
is begun,
Advised be to take the
Course,
40
The
Destinies,
thou blamest, much,
Because, thou canst not be so rich,
As others are: But blame no more
The
Destinies,
as heretofore;
For, if it please thee to behold,
What, by thine
Emblem,
shall be told,
Thou, there, shalt find, which be those
Fates,
41
Thou thinkest, that thou from
faults
art free;
And, here, unblamed thou shalt be.
But, if to all men, thou wilt seem
As fair, as in thine own esteem,
Presume thou not abroad to pass,
Until, by every
Looking-Glass,
Which, in thy
Moral,
is expressed,
42
Some,
labor
hardly, all their days,
In painful-profitable ways;
And, others taste the sweetest
gain,
Of that, for which these took the
pain
:
Yet, these, they not alone undo,
But, having
robbed,
they
murder
too.
The wrongs of such, this
Emblem
shows,
43
Thou, often hast observed with fears,
Th'
aspects,
and
motions
of the
Stars,
As if, they threatened
Fates
to some,
Which,
God
could never save them from▪
If this, thy dreaming Error be,
Thine
Emblems
Moral shows to thee,
That,
God
retraines the
Starry-Fates,
44
Thou, hast provoked, over long,
Their
patience,
who neglect the wrong;
And, thou dost little seem to heed,
What
harm
it threats, if thou proceed.
To thee, an
Emblem,
therefore, shows,
To what,
abused-Patience
grows.
Observe it well; and, make thy
Peace,
45
Thou hast the helps of
Natures
light;
Experience
too, doth aid thy sight:
Nay more, the
Sun
of
Grace-divine,
Doth round about thee daily shine;
Yet,
Reasons
eye is blind in thee,
And, clearest
Objects
cannot see.
Now, from what cause, this
Blindness
grows
46
Thy
cause,
thy
Money,
or thy
Friend,
May make thee forward to
contend
;
And, give thee Hopes, that thy intents,
Shall bring thee prosperous events.
But view thy
Lot
; then, mark thou there.
That
Victories
uncertain are;
And rashly venture not on that
47
To them who grudgingly repine,
As soon as their estates decline,
This
Lot
pertains; or, unto those,
Who, when their neighbor needy grows,
Contemne him; as if he were left,
Of God; and, of all hopes berest.
If this, or that, be found in thee,
Thou, by thy
Moral,
taught shalt be,
That, there is none to ill b
•
sped;
48
Thy
Flesh
thou lov'st, as if it were,
The chiefest
Object,
of thy
Care
;
And of such value, as may seem,
Well meriting, thy best esteem.
But, now, to banish that conceit,
Thy
Lot
an
Emblem
brings to sight,
Which, without flattery, shows to thee
49
It may suspected be thou hast,
Mispent the
Time,
that's gone and past;
For, to an
Emblem
thou art sent,
That's made, such folly to prevent:
The
moral
heed; Repent thy
Crime
;
50
With good applause thou, hast begun,
And, well, as yet, proceedest on:
But, e're the
Laurel,
thou canst wear,
Thou to the End must
persevere.
And, lest this duty, be forgot,
51
Although, this time, you drew it not,
Good Fortune,
for you, may be got.
Perhaps, the
planets
ruling now,
Have cast no good
Aspects
on you.
For, many say, that, now and then,
The
Stars
look angerly on men:
Then, try your Chance again, anon;
For, their displeasure soon is gone.
52
If by your
Lot
you had been praised
Your mind, perchance, it would have raised,
Above the
mean.
Should you receive
Some check, thereby, It would bereave
Your
Patience
: For, but few can bear,
Reproofes,
which unexpected are.
But, now prepared you have been,
To draw your
Lot
once more begin;
And, if another
Blancke
you get,
Attempt your
chance,
no more, as yet.
53
To cross your hopes,
Misfortune
sought;
And, by your
Lot,
a
Blanck
hath brought:
But, he who knew her ill intent,
Hath made this
Blanke
her spite prevent;
For, if that
Number
you shall take,
Which these two
figures,
backward, make,
And view the place to which they guide;
An
Emblem,
for you, they provide.
54
These
Lots
are almost
Ten
to
One
Above the
Blankes
; yer, thou hast none.
If thus thy
Fortune
still proceed,
It is
T
••
to
One
if well thou speed.
Yet, i
•
thou do not much neglect,
To do, as
Wisdom
shall direct,
It is a
Thousand
unto
ten
But all thy Hopes will prosper, then.
55
It seems, Dame
Fortune,
doth not know,
What
Lot,
on thee, she should bestow;
Nor, canst thou tell, (if thou mightest have
The choice) what
Fortune,
thou shouldst crave.
For,
one thing,
now, thy mind requires;
Anon,
another
it desires.
When Resolution thou hast got,
Then, come again, and draw thy
Lot.
56
The
Chance,
which thou obtained hast,
Of all our
Chances,
is the last;
And, casting up the total
sums,
We find thy
Game,
to
Nothing
comes.
Yet if it well be understood,
This
Chance
may chance to do thee good;
For, it infers what
Portion
shall,
To everyone, (at last) befall;
And warns, while
something▪
is enjoyd,
That, well it (always) be imployd.
FINIS.
A Table for the better finding out of the principal things and matters, mentioned in these Four Books.
-
A.
- ADversitie. pag. 16. 17. 26. 30. 240. 243
- Aegle. 6. 3 • 112
- Affection. 7. 33. 34. 83. 162
- Affliction. 16. 17. 44. 47. 70. 81. 108. 240.
- Agreement in Desire. 34.
- Age. 44.
- Ambitions 〈◊〉 216.
- Ambition. 69.
- Anchor. 39. 72.
- Annual revolutions. 157.
- Anvils and Hammer. 17.
- Appearances dece • e. 175.
- Apollo. 234.
- Archer. 25.
- Armor. 111.
- Arts. 1. 80.
- Action. 9.
- Arms. 3. 32. 80.
- Authority. 137.
-
B.
- BAll. 7.
- Beginning. 10 • .
- Best men not best favor'd. 224.
- Bear. 23.
- Bees. 23. 90. 250.
- Beauty. 40.
- Blabs. 246.
- Blessings long enjoyed. 70.
- Bounds. 161.
- A Bore. 110.
- Borrowed worth. 14.
- A Bowe bended. 39.
- Bridle. 169.
- A Broken-heart 7 • .
- Busy-bodies. 148.
- Butterfly and Spider. 18.
-
C.
- CAndle and Fly. 40.
- Carnal affections. 43.
- Caduceus. 9. 88.
- Ceremonies of estate. 137.
- Centaure. 103.
- A Child. 45.
- Christian confidence. 81.
- Church. 111. 136.
- Christ the true Pelican. 154.
- The Circular motion of things. 45.
- Circumspection. 138.
- Clamor. 63.
- Clergy-men. 149.
- Constancy. 2. 81. 143.
- Cock. 71.
- Comlinesse. 249.
- Good Companions. 249.
- Constant resolution 24.
- Consideration. 9.
- Contempt of earthly things. 1 • .
- Contention. 34. 71.
- Contention hazardous. 254.
- Contemplation. 45. 105. 156.
- Concord. 63.
- Consolation. vid. Comfort.
- Comfort. 70.
- Comfort sweetened by troubles. ibid.
- Constellations. 31. 74. 251.
- Contentment. 86.
- Cornerstone. 161.
- Coronet. 255.
- Cornucopia 9. 88. 166. 248.
- Corporeall virtues. 80.
- Covetousness. 216.
- Crocadile. 112.
- Craft. 136.
- Crown. 47. 78. 81.
- Cross. 47 75. 81
- Crosses 47.
- Curiositie 147.
- Cupid 227.
- Cynthia 24.
-
D.
- DAnger hangs over all 213
- Death 1. 21. 45. 48. 94. 168. 184. 235.
- Deaths head 21
- Deliberation 72
- Delay 18
- Degrees. 29. 49. 117.
- Deceit in all places. 180.
- Despair is not to be admitted. 217. 221. 240.
- Destinie. vid. Fate.
- Decrees of God. 95.
- Our Destruction is of ourselves. 214.
- Desires best object. 209.
- Devotion. 41.
- Diamond. 171.
- Diana. 24.
- Divine assistance. 170.
- Dissimulation, 211, 228, 230
- Discord. 177.
- Discretion. 151.
- Doggs. 255.
- Dolphin. 72.
- Dove. 150.
- Drowsinesse. 9.
- Drones. 250.
-
E.
- EArthly things. • 5.
- Endurance 23. 26.
- Endeavor continued. 29.
- Envy 97.
- End. 102.
- Equalitie. 34. 48.
- Equivocation. 38.
- Ostrich. 36.
- Eternity. 102. 157.
- Everlasting. 102.
- Excess. 68.
- External Blessings. 88.
-
F.
- FAith 13. 66
- Faith infringed. 38. 99.
- Fate 74. 95. 221. 251.
- Fatall necessity 251
- Falsehood 99
- Fame 146.
- Faire shows deceitful 233. 229
- Face 39
- Fighters 71
- Ficklenesse vid. Inconstancy
- Filial pierie 155.
- Fire on an Altar 15.
- Fierie-trial 30
- Flesh is hay 256
- Flying-Ball 71. 101
- Fly and the Candle 40
- Flower of the Sun 159.
- Fools, who the greatest 211
- Fools favors mischievou • 225
- Fortune 6. 88. 101. 109. 139 174. 224
- Fraud in all 〈…〉
- 〈…〉
- 〈…〉
- Frequency 45
- Fullness 64
- Furie begotten by abused patience 252.
-
G.
- GAnimed 156.
- Light Gaines 50.
- Glory 5. 92.
- God 140. 152. 170, 210, 223 255
- God's prerogatives 223
- God's decrees • 5. 142
- Gospel preachect ••
- Good works 135.
- Governors 37
- Government •••
- Goblins about Graves 43
- Grace 31, 74. 104, 226
- Grave 21
- Greefe 26
- Groves 3 • .
- Great things from small beginnings 46. 9 •
- Gryphon 139
- Guile vid. Fraud and Deceit
- Guiltinesse 66, 69.
-
H.
- HAst 19, 49 153
- Hammer and Anvil, 17
- Halter 66, Halayon. vid. Kings Fisher
- Harvest 44
- Harlots 27, 246
- Harmlesnes vid. Innocency
- Hazzardous enterprises 247
- Harmony vid. Music
- Hard-hearted men 175
- Hardship 243
- Heed 19. 49, 153
- Heliotrope 159
- Heaven 152
- Hellen 27
- Hyppocrisy 20, 77, 211, 129
- Hyppoc • i •• 229
- Honor •• , 153
- Hope 13, 16, 39,, 44, 73. 106 150, 217
- Houses which are best 222
- Honey 23
- Howreglasse 21, 212
- Hunger 64.
- Husbands 162
- Humility 147
- Hyppotamus 155
-
I.
- IAnus 138.
- Idleness 5. 92
- Innocence 9. 111. 151
- Infant 45
- Incroachments 161
- Invincibility 220
- Inconstancy 231
- Intemperance 242
- Industry 5
- Impiety 155
- Imprsonmēt better than a worse mischief 96
- Ioyes sweetened by afflictions 70
- Iteration 29
- Justice 66. 69, 155
- Just dealing, 100
- Ixion 69
-
K.
- KIngsfisher 2 • 6
- Kings 32, 37, 78, 137, 159 16 • , 180
- Kingdoms 67
- A Kingdoms glory 78
- Knowledge 1, 79, 103
-
L.
- LAbour 5, 29, 143, 150, 229,
- Labor in vain 11.
- Lamb 252.
- Law 3. 163 169
- Leasure and heed 19. 49 107
- Learn to die 94
- Learning 87
- A Line a day. 158
- Liking makes indifferent things excellent 2 • 2
- A Little and little makes a mic •• se 50. 158
- Life 21. 45
- Love the best Musician, 82
- Love 7, 33, 34, 38.
- Losses 50.
- Losses may he recovered 182
- Looking-glasses 241.
-
M.
- MAlefactors 66
- Mat • 80.
- Marriages, 83.
- Magistrates out of office 215.
- A Made. 137
- Man his own enemy 214
- Mercy, offered to all 255
- Merit 139
- Measures 100
- Medlers, vid. Busie-bodies,
- Meditation best in the night •
- Means, not to be neglected 〈◊〉
- Means, not the only ground of Hope 13
- Mercury 9
- The Mean 169
- Military exercise 32
- Mis-fortune may be profitable, 96
- Mortality 8. 45
- Moon 111. 182
- Monuments 142
- Mutuall affection 24. 163. 781.
- Music 69
-
N.
- NAture and Grace 104. 144
- Nature needs a supporter.226
- Necessity 64
- Night helpful to Meditation 9
-
O.
- OAthes 28
- Obscuritie profitable 73
- Occasion 4
- Offenders 215
- Old men may learn 87
- Opportunitie 4
- Oppression 98
- Opposition 63
- Order 220
- Outward appearances 175
- Oil 9. 63. 79. 168
- Ox 173
-
P.
- PAine 23
- Palmetree 172
- Patience 23. 63. 252
- Patriots 165
- Pallas 9. 80
- Parents 15
- A Pastoral charge 149
- Peace 9. • 38
- Perjurie 38
- Pegasus 105
- Perseverance 19. 14 • . 175. 258
- Pelican 154
- Piety 8. 41. 155
- Piguley Spirits 14
- Planets 31
- Planting 35
- Pleasure 22. 23. 38. 68
- Plenty 64
- Plain-dealing 228
- Poetical Liberty 148
- Poets Horse, vid. Pegasus
- Power 103. 179
- Power divine 210.
- Policy 80
- Posterity 35
- Poor Thieves 167.
- Poverty 176
- Cause of poverty. 248
- Praise 146
- Practice 66. 158
- Preaching 89
- Preferment 68
- Prelates 41
- Priests. ibid.
- Pride to be avoyed 8
- Princes 155
- Profit causeth contention 71.
- Procession 165.
- Prosperity 12.16
- Protection divine 245
- Promotion is of God 223
- Prudence 74.142.151
- Purity 41
- Punishment and reward 245
- Pyramus 33.
-
Q.
- Qvarrellers 71.
-
R.
- RAshnesse 9.19
- Redeem the time 23.257
- Recreation 234
- A well Resolved man 228
- Restraints from being Rich 248
- Resolute constancy 24▪
- Repine not at mi • fortunes 96
- Reputation 140
- Repentance to be hastened 213
- Retirednesse 72.79
- Revolutions of things 45
- Reward 135.139.141.229.258
- Reward and punishment 243
- Riches 1.98
- Rich Thieves 197
- Rod. 93.
- Royal favor. 159.
-
S.
- SAcred callings 41
- The best Sacrifice 77.
- Salamander 30
- Scepter 79
- Scepter and Spade 48
- Sea-horse 155.
- Self perdition 68.214
- Self love 35
- Shepherds crook 149
- Ship 13.37
- Sisyphus 11
- Sin 66.69.
- Silence 73
- Simplicity 151
- Sincerity •• 8, 230
- Sive 2 •
- A Skeleton •
- Sloath 9.181.
- Slownesse 19
- Slow pace goes far 173
- Small beginnings 46.50
- Snake 5.9.45.47.74.101.102 142.
- Snaile 19
- Sophisters 38
- Sober knowledge 147
- Sorrow 24 79
- Soveraigntie is of God, 21.22
- Spade 5
- Spider 18
- Squirrell 26.136
- Staiednesse 72.153
- Starrs 31.74.251
- States-men 15
- Steresman 37
- Stedfastnesse. vid. Constancy.
- Stews 27
- Stork 149.155
- Strength 80.103.136
- Students 15
- Studiousnesse 146
- Suffering 23.47.81.171.232
- Sufficiencie 86
- Sunnshine after storms 240
- Swearing. 38.
- Swine 38.110.
- Sword 66.137.163.238.245
-
T.
- TAlents hidden 76.181
- A Tatler, 246.
- Tennis-ball, 16
- Terrene pomp 98
- Temperance 169.242
- Terminus 161
- Thieves 167
- Thisbe 33
- Time. 4.102.157.212.235 257
- Titles, ill placed 224.
- Tongue 42
- Tortois 86
- Touchstone 229
- Transitorie things 85
- Trial 30
- Try e're thou trust. 84.233
- Truth 172
- Turtle. vid. Dove.
-
V.
- VAnitie of earthly things 98
- Vain hopes. 69
- Vain shows 20
- Vengeance 66
- Virtue. 1. • .6.22.30.88.97.101.109.111.139.171.218.
- Vice 22.104.224.
- Victory uncertain 252
- Victory is of God 241.
- Viper 247
- Vnanimitie 67
- Vnchastitie 15
- Unity 67.177
- Unity of faith 244
- Universal Grace 210.258
- Vnprofitable gifts 76
- Uprightness of heart 91
-
W.
- WAnton women 7
- War 90, 238
- Wast 35
- Wearinesse 9.84.153
- Watchfulness 79
- Watchmen 149
- Way of Virtue 160
- Weapons • 41.
- Wealth 68.166.
- Weights 110.
- Welldoing 135
- Weakness needs a suporter 222
- Wisdom 1.2, 31.103.142.145.
- Witt 1, 64.136.167
- Wives 172
- Whoredom. 27
- Whore. vid. Harlot
- Woods decayed 35
- Woman 93.231
- World goes backward 219.
-
Y.
- YOuth. 22.44.
A Supersedeas to all them, whose custom it is, without any deserving, to importune Authors to give unto them their Books.
It merits nor your Anger, nor my Blame,
That, thus I have inscrib'd this
Epigram:
For, they who know me, know, that,
Books
thus large,
And, fraught with
Emblems,
do augment the Charge
Too much above my
Fortunes,
to afford
A
Gift
so costly, for an
Aierie-word:
And, I have proved, your
Bigging Quality,
So forward, to oppress my
Modestie
;
That, for my future ease, it seemeth fit,
To take some Order, for preventing it.
And, peradventure, other Authors may,
Find Cause to thank me for it, another day.
These many years, it hath your Custom been,
That, when in my possession, you have seen
A
Volume,
of mine own, you did no more,
But,
Ask
and
Take,
As if you thought my store
Encreast, without my Cost: And, that, by
Giving,
(Both
Paines
and Charges too) I got my living;
Or, that, I find the
Paper
and the
Printing,
a
As easy to me, as the
Books
Inventing.
If, of my
Studies,
no esteem you have,
You, then abuse the
Courtesies
you crave,
And, are
Vnthankfull,
If you prize them ought,
Why should my
Labor,
not enough be thought,
Unless, I add
Expences
to my pains?
The
Stationer,
affords for little Gaines,
The
Books
you crave: And, He, as well as I
Might give away, what you repine to buy:
For, what he
Gives,
doth only
Money
Cost,
•
et mine, both
Money, Time,
and
Wit
is lost.
What I shall Give, and what I have bestowed
O
•
Friends, to whom, I
Love,
or
Service
ow'd,
I prudge not; And, I think it is from them,
Sufficient, that such
Gifts
they do esteem:
Yea, and, it is a
Favor
too, when they
Will take these Tristles, my large
Dues
to pay;
(Or, Ask them at my hands, when I forget,
That, I am to their
Love,
so much in debt.)
But, this infers not, that, I should bestow
〈◊〉
like on all men, who, my
Name
do know;
〈◊〉
have the Face to ask: For, then, I might,
Of
Wit
and
Money,
soon be beggar'd▪ quite.
So much, already, hath been
Beg'd
away,
(F
•
r which, I neither had, nor look for pay)
As
〈◊〉
valu'd at the common Rate,
〈…〉
hundred Crowns,
in my Estate.
Which, (if I may confess it) signifies,
That, I was same more
Liberall,
than
Wise.
But, for the time to come, resolved I am,
That, till without deny all (or just blame)
I may of those, who
Cloth
and
Clothes
do make,
(As oft as I shall need them)
Ask,
and
Take
;
You shall no more befool me. Therefore,
〈◊〉
Be Answer'd,
And, henceforward,
〈…〉
A Direction, showing how they who are so • isposed, shall 〈◊〉 out their Chance, in the 〈…〉 .
TUrne abo • t one of the 〈…〉 th • Figures, which are in the following Page, 〈…〉 your eyes thereupon, to observe where it slayeth 〈…〉 . If it be the upper Figure, whose Index you moved; then, that Number whereupon it resteth, is the number of your Lot, or Blancke.
This being known, move the other Index in like manner, and that Quarter of the said Figure whereon the same standeth (when your hand is taken away) show 〈◊〉 which of the four Books, or Lotteries, that Chance is to be expected, whereunto your Number doth send you, whether it be Lot, or Blancke. If it be any Number above Fifty, it is a Blancke Chance, and you are to look no further. If it be any of the other Numbers, it sends you to the Emblem answering to the same Number, in the Book next before the time Lotterie.
If the letter M. be plac • d before the allotted Number ; then, that Lot is proper only to a 〈…〉 stand before it, it is proper only to a Woman: If there be 〈…〉 it 〈◊〉 to both Sexes: And, therefore, when a 〈…〉 on a Chance impertinet to their proper Sex • ▪ 〈…〉 to take the next Chance which pertaineth properly 〈…〉 it be Blancke or Lot ; the trial whereof, I have that 〈◊〉 , without the use of Dice ; 〈◊〉 by bringing them into fight, they might, sometimes, occasion worse Gaming.
If
King, Queen, Prince,
or any one that springs
From Persons, known to be derived from
Kings,
Shall seek, for
Sport sake,
hence to draw their
Lot;
〈◊〉
Author
says, that, he provided not
〈◊〉
such
〈◊〉
those; Because, it were too much
〈…〉
we find ou
•
Fortunes, fit for such,
〈◊〉
(as
〈◊〉
thinks) should rather,
Ayde
supply
〈…〉
his evil Fortunes by.
To them,
〈◊〉
therefore p
••
sed is to give
〈◊〉
and this large
Prerogative;
〈◊〉
thy shall ch
•
s
•
from hence, what
Lots
they please,
〈…〉
the
••
〈◊〉
, if they like not these,
〈…〉
Personages,
of
High degree,
•
pan
•
profess our Authors friends
〈◊〉
be,
〈…〉
some, blemise, have; that
•
ill, they find
〈…〉
to their mind,
〈…〉
to try
〈…〉
And, ev'rytime apply
〈…〉
th
•
se,
〈…〉
〈…〉
〈…〉
[illustration]
WEST 3. Book. NORTH 4. Book. SOVTH 2. Book. EAST 1. Book.
[illustration]